HIV drug resistance: past and current trends

Abstract

HIV infection is incurable, but effective antiretroviral therapy (ART) makes it possible to achieve an undetectable viral load (VL), to preserve the function of the immune system and to prevent the patients health. Due to the constant increase in the use of ART and the high variability of HIV, especially in patients receiving so-called suboptimal therapy for various reasons, the incidence of drug resistance (DR) is increasing. In turn, the presence of DR in an HIV-infected patient affects the effectiveness of therapy, which leads to a limited choice and an increase in the cost of treatment regimens, disease progression and, consequently, an increased risk of death, as well as transmission of infection to partners. The main problems of drug resistance, its types and causes, as well as factors associated with its development are considered. The main drug resistance mutations for each of the drug classes are described.

Keywords

• human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (hiv-1)
• drug resistance
• drug resistance mutations
• antiretroviral therapy
• suboptimal therapy
• undetectable viral load