Safety of antiretroviral drugs

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), isolated in 1983 by Paster Institute researches, has been recognised as the cause of million fatalies in 21st century. Initial monotherapy failed to show promising results, however, with the development of highly active antiretroviral therapy new era of HIV treatment has started. This new approach resulted in extended life time, reduced development of virus resistance as well as morbidity and mortality of HIV patients. Antiretroviral therapy is longlife and connected with serious adverse and toxic effects. Mitochondrial toxicity can be manifested as periferal lipoathrophy, hepatic steatosis, lactic acidosis, neuropathy and miopathy. Metabolic features associated with lipodystrophy include hypertriglyceridaemia, hypercholesterolaemia, insuline resistance and abnormal glucose tolerance. Hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, osteopenia, rash and gastrointestinal symptoms can also occur during antiretroviral therapy. The aim od this work was to present the most important adverse and toxic effects of drugs used in HIV therapy