HIV Flashcards
what enzyme is involved in the HIV infection and what is its role?
reverse transcriptase
converts HIV DNA to RNA
what must be required for the replication of the HIV virus?
DNA has to be converted to RNA
requires a host cell
what is the most common group of HIV?
HIV-1 group M
what antigen does the HIV test look for?
P24 (DNA capsule)
what tests are carried out when managing HIV?
viral load HIV resistance testing avidity testing (how long they have had the infection) subtype determination tropism (what cell the HIV has infected)
what is the diagnostic window?
a period between exposure and seroconversion where someone has been infected but they will be antibody negative
in these cases, if you still suspect HIV repeat test in 1 month
what is the purpose of the viral load testing in patients with HIV?
effectiveness of HIV treatment
how is HIV spread?
sexual transmission blood transfusion vertical transmission injection drug misuse organ transplant
what cells does his mostly infect and destroy?
cells which contain CD4 receptors such as lymphocytes, macrophages, monocytes, cells in brain, skin etc
what is the difference between HIV and AIDS?
HIV infection is asymptomatic
when they start to show symptoms such as infections and tumours this is AIDS
patients will be treated then return to having HIV infection
what is seroconversion?
when HIV antibodies first develop
what are the symptoms of HIV primary infection/ seroconversion?
flue-like illness fever malaise and lethargy pharyngitis lymphadenopathy toxic exanthema
what is one of the commonest late stage presentations of HIV?
pneumocystitis jiroveci pneumonia (PJP)
fungal infection
what is the presentation of pneumonocystitis jiroveci pneumonia (PJP)?
dry cough and increasing breathlessness over several weeks
What is the management for HIV?
Anti-retro viral therapy
Reginen includes combination of 2 nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors plus integrate strand transfer inhibitor
