For more information on this session, including access to speaker presentations, please see the conference Programme-at-a-Glance.

The success of highly active antiretroviral therapy, HAART, has been evident for 15 years. Such long-term therapy can have complications though, especially when compounded by co-morbid conditions such as ageing and smoking. In recent years studies have shown that avoiding or switching from thymidine analogues can prevent or reduce complications, though such drugs are still commonly prescribed globally. More recent problems such as cardiovascular risk, bone and renal disease are now becoming a focus for treatment decisions. With a movement to start treatment earlier at higher CD4 counts, the lifelong risks of complications are yet to be determined. Allowing HIV to go untreated, even at relatively high CD4 counts, is also not without problems. HIV is thought to induce a state of long-term inflammation, which may lead to cardiovascular events, renal and hepatic complications and tumors. This panel will explore the problem of complications of HAART and the need to treat early.

Event Date

Jul 19, 2010