OUTPATIENT MANAGEMENT OF HIV-INFECTED ADULTS - THE VARIED CHALLENGES FOR PRIMARY-CARE

Much progress has been made in our understanding of HIV infection. The use of effective chemoprophylactic agents allows patients to prevent or delay the onset of many opportunistic infections. Measurement of HI V RNA levels to assess a patient's risk for progression of disease and to monitor the efficacy of anti-retroviral therapy affords an opportu nity to individualize therapy objectively. Both the availability of ef fective antiretroviral drugs and an evolving understanding of how to u se them have renewed the hope that HIV infection will become a chronic , manageable disease.