From HIV/AIDS

AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) is the final stage of HIV disease, which causes severe damage to the immune system. AIDS begins when a person with HIV infection has a CD4 cell count below 200. CD4 cells are also called "T-cells" or "helper cells"; they are a type of immune cell. AIDS is also defined by numerous opportunistic infections and cancers that occur in the presence of HIV infection

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) causes AIDS. The virus attacks the immune system and leaves the body vulnerable to a variety of life-threatening infections and cancers, including liver cancer

Transmission of the virus occurs through varius means such as sexual contact, blood transfusions and from mother to child.

Symptoms

Patients with AIDS have had their immune system depleted by HIV and are very susceptible to opportunistic infections. Common symptoms are fevers, sweats (particularly at night), swollen glands, chills, weakness, and weight loss.

There are many AIDS-related infections and cancers that people with AIDS acquire as their CD4 count decreases. Previously, having AIDS was defined as having HIV infection and getting one of these additional diseases. Now it is additionally defined as a CD4 count below 200, even without an opportunistic infection.

Treatment

There is no cure for AIDS at this time. However, a variety of treatments are available that can delay the progression of disease for many years, and improve the quality of life of those who have developed symptoms.

Antiretroviral therapy suppresses the replication of the HIV virus in the body. A combination of several antiretroviral agents, termed highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), has been highly effective in reducing the number of HIV particles in the blood stream, as measured by a blood test called the viral load. This can help the immune system recover from the HIV infection and improve T-cell counts.

Prognosis

At the present time, there is no cure for AIDS. It is always fatal if no treatment is provided. In the U.S., most patients survive many years following diagnosis because of the availability of HAART. HAART has dramatically increased the time from diagnosis to death, and research continues in the areas of drug treatments and vaccine development.

Prevention

The following precautions can help prevent AIDS:
- Try not to use intravenous drugs. Do not share needles or syringes.
- Avoid contact with another person's blood when the HIV status of the bleeding individual is unknown.
- Anyone who tests positive for HIV can pass the disease to others and should not donate blood, plasma, body organs, or sperm
- HIV-positive women who wish to become pregnant should seek counseling about the risk to unborn children, and medical advances which may help prevent the fetus from becoming infected.

HIV and Liver Damage

While most drug-induced liver toxicity is mild, it can cause serious problems and death in some patients. And people with HIV infection receiving antiretroviral therapy may be at an increased risk, particularly if they are infected with hepatitis B/ C. That's why it is essential that people being treated for HIV are monitored for signs of liver problems.

It's important that we monitor the liver because a lot of the medications that we give to our patients to treat their HIV infection can cause such problems. Also, HIV disease and AIDS can lead to opportunistic infections that can settle in the liver and cause liver problems.Most of the liver inflammation that can occur with HIV treatment is actually asymptomatic, meaning it does not produce symptoms.

Co-infection with hepatitis C and HIV is a common problem, because the risk factors for acquiring HIV are the same as the risk factors for acquiring hepatitis C.