AIDS Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, AIDS,

AIDS

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, AIDS, first recognized in 1981, is a fatal disease that is caused by a "rapidly mutating retrovirus that attacks the immune system and leaves the victim vulnerable to infections, malignancies, and neurological disorders" (AIDS). The virus was isolated in 1983 and named the 'human immunodeficiency virus, HIV, of which there are two forms, HIV-1 and HIV-2 (AIDS). In 1999, HIV-1, by which the majority of cases are caused, was traced by an international team of genetic scientist to a closely related strain of the virus called simian immunodeficiency virus that infects a subspecies of chimpanzee in west-central Africa (AIDS). It is theorized that the virus passed from the blood of the chimps into humans through superficial wounds, since chimpanzees are hunted for food in this region, and that it may have begun as early as the 1930's (AIDS).

Although the disease is still not completely understood, what is known is that HIV infects the T-cells of the immune system, and as the body fights back, it is eventually overwhelmed, thus leaving the body vulnerable to infections and cancers (AIDS). While some people develop flu-like symptoms shortly after infection, others have not symptoms, and it may be months or years before serious symptoms develop in adults, however infants who are infected in the womb or at birth will generally develop symptoms with the first two years of life (AIDS). Prior to the occurrence of serious symptoms, an individual infected with HIV may experience "fever, weight loss, diarrhea, fatigue, skin rashes, shingles, thrush, or memory problems" (AIDS).

The disease is considered AIDS when the CD4-cell count drops from a normal count of 1,000 to below 200, or when certain infections and cancers appear, such as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, primary lymphoma of the brain, invasive carcinoma of the cervix, herpes simplex, pnuemocystis carinii pneumonia, and diarrheal diseases (AIDS). Moreover, hepatitis C is common among intravenous drug users and hemophiliacs with AIDS, and some 4-5 million people with tuberculosis are also co-infected with HIV (AIDS). Overall, HIV patients are thought to have a 1.5 to 2 fold increase in developing a malignancy, compared to the general population (Berger). HIV is transmitted by direct exchange of body fluids, such as "blood or blood products, breast milk, semen, or vaginal secretions," with the most common mode of transmission being sexual activity or needle sharing among drug users (AIDS). Bodily fluids such as saliva, tears, urine, feces, and sweat are not believed to transmit the virus (AIDS). For all that is known of the disease, AIDS remains somewhat of a mystery. For example, by 2001 approximately 800,000 cases of AIDS had been reported in the United States, and over that period the Centers for Disease Control found only 57 possible - not proven - instances of HIV infection of healthcare workers through accidental needle-stick, and two studies at separate drug treatment clinics in two different countries revealed higher rates of HIV infection among drugs users who did not share needles than among those who did (Bauer).

There are various blood tests used to detect HIV, of which the most frequently used is enzyme immunoassay, and if the presence of antibodies is detected, the blood is further tested with the Western blot method (AIDS). A test that measure the viral genes in the blood is has proven helpful in assessing treatment efficacy (AIDS). Although there is no cure for AIDS, there are a number of drugs available, such as AZT, ddl, and 3TC which are reverse transcriptase inhibitors, and have shown to be effective in delaying the onset of symptoms in certain subsets of infected individuals (AIDS). Moreover, adding a protease inhibitor, such as saquinovir, amprenavir, or atazanavir to AZT and 3TC has proven effective, however this combination does not eliminate the virus (AIDS). Another type of reverse transcriptase inhibitor, efavirenz must be taken with protease inhibitors or older forms of AIDS medicines (AIDS). Subsequent infections may be treated with a variety of antibiotics and antiviral drugs, and chemotherapy is often used as treatment for malignancies (AIDS). In July 2006, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a once-daily pill for HIV, however these once or twice a day regimes, such as Ziagen, can be difficult for some patients, resulting in swollen glands, fever, rashes, high cholesterol rates, and increased heart disease (Montagne). In December 2006, Pfizer announced it was establishing a multi-national Expanded Access Program to make the investigational CCR5 antagonist maraviroc available to HIV / AIDS patients with CCR5-tropic HIV-1 who have limited or no treatment options due to intolerance or resistance (Pfizer).