John Flaherty, MD, Professor of Medicine, Northwestern University, discusses HIV infection, latest trends in treatment and what a hospitalist needs to know.

Summary:
1.There is a trend toward early initiation of antiretroviral therapy in HIV, the list of available drugs has expanded and that of first line drugs has been narrowed.
2.Unboosted protease inhibitors are no longer recommended. 3.Drug interactions are common, the most important being that Retonavir will block metabolism by other drugs.

References and Resources:
Fernández-Montero JV, Barreiro P, Soriano V. HIV protease inhibitors: recent clinical trials and recommendations on use. Expert Opin Pharmacother. 2009 Jul;10(10):1615-29.

Viergever RF, Ten Berg MJ, van Solinge WW, Hoepelman AI, Gisolf EH. Changes in Hematological Parameters After Switching Treatment of HIV-Infected Patients from Zidovudine to Abacavir or Tenofovir DF. HIV Clin Trials. 2009 Mar-Apr;10(2):125-8.