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HIV/AIDS

Pamela R Hughes, MD and Gregorio Climaco, MD Reviewed 04/2024
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • HIV is a retrovirus (subgroup lentivirus) that integrates into CD4 T lymphocytes, altering cell-mediated immunity and causing cell death, severe immunodeficiency, opportunistic infec...

DIAGNOSIS

  • Acute retroviral syndrome: CD4 lymphocyte count declines with increase in viral load 1 to 4 weeks after transmission; confirmed by high-HIV RNA in the absence of HIV antibody.

    • Presents as an ...

TREATMENT

  • Initiate antiretroviral therapy (ART) then select/change regimens based on resistance testing.

  • Consider dosing frequency, pill burden, adverse toxic effect profiles, comorbidities, and drug i...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

Patient Monitoring

  • Monitor HIV RNA viral load 2 to 8 weeks after starting therapy; if detectable, repeat testing every 4 to 8 weeks until viral load is suppressed ...

REFERENCES

1
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Statistics Overview. https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/statistics/overview/index.html. Accessed May 25, 2023.
2
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention....

CODES

ICD10

  • Z21 Asymptomatic human immunodeficiency virus infection status

  • B20 Human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] disease

  • R75 Inconclusive laboratory evidence of human immunodef virus

  • Z20.6 Contact w and ...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Routine screening for HIV should be completed in all adults and adolescents.

  • Discuss prevention strategies, including PrEP, with individuals who are at high risk of HIV infection.

  • Acute ...

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