The investigation of patients with HIV infection: 10 years of progress

The past decade has seen great advances in the management of patients with HIV infection. The introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HA ART) has resulted in a decrease in opportunistic infections but the develop ment of new clinical entities such as lipodystrophy and immune reconstituti on illnesses. The use of investigations such as lipid profiles and dual ene rgy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scanning to assess lipodystrophy have been necessitated by these changes in the epidemic. Technological advances have resulted in new techniques such as viral resistance assays and single photo n emission computed tomography (SPECT) scanning. The appropriate use of the se investigations is subject to ongoing assessment.