Sara Ana Reed

Biology

2.m

How does the HAART regime contribute to the

extension of the HIV life cycle
?
Human immunodeficiency virus, also known as HIV is a virus which attacks the
human immune system. HIV is a sexually transmitted disease which can either be
transferred orally, vaginally or anally from one partner to another. Not only can it be
transmitted through unprotected sexual contact, but blood contact as well, for
example. Sharing injection syringes or from mother to child during pregnancy.
Unlike many other viruses such as herpes or chickenpox, there is no safe and
effective cure, meaning if you have it, you have it for life. HIV caught most
populations attention in the 1980s, but by 1994 it became the cause of death
among Americans ages 25 to 44. As we know if HIV is left untreated it can lead to
AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). Even though HIV cannot be fully
treated, the side effects can be significantly decreased with various combinations of
medicines. This is called antiretroviral therapy or HAART and was discovered in
1995
Before we start it is important to mention HIV is considered to have 2 specific
strains, type 1. and type 2., even though HIV-1 accounts 95% of all recorded cases.
HIV-2 mostly appears in a few West African countries. If we look at the functional
differences between the two, we can recognize that HIV-1 enters the immune
system by attaching onto the CD4+ receptor found on the surface of certain white
blood cells, unlike HIV-2 which has a harder time gaining such a position. That is
why the HAART technique is mainly adapted to patients with the HIV-1 strain. As I
have already stated, HIV attacks the human immune system, to be more specific, it
affects the CD4 cells also known as T cells. These are a specific sort of white blood
cells whose function is to adapt our immune system for the attack on a particular
pathogens. In other words, we can call them soldiers within our body, which
search and destroy our viral enemies. When a person is infected with HIV, the virus
uses T-cell machinery to multiply, increasing the amount of the virus and decreasing
the amount of antibodies. By testing a patients T cell level, we can easily determine
if the patient is HIV positive or negative. The CD4 count of either an uninfected
adult or adolescent can range from 500 cells/mm3 to 1,200 cells/mm3. If the CD4
count is less than 200 cells/mm3, the person is considered to be HIV positive, this
can be seen with a simple lab test. Even if the T-cell count increases again, the virus
is so wide spread by then that the person is still considered to be infected. Drastic
drop of T-cells is not the only side-affect an HIV positive patient can convey. These
side effects can be the following: fatigue, anemia, diarrhea, nausea, insomnia,
headaches, skin rash, weight loss, dry mouth, vivid dreams, nerve problems Even
though these can be extremely harsh, they tend to frequently get better over a
certain period of time, depending on the progression of the virus.

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Your CD4 count is also used to help you and your doctor decide when to start
antiretroviral therapy (ART). As I have already mentioned, HAART is a treatment
where a combination of medicine is used and should be engaged every day. Since it
is possible for the HIV strain to develop immunity toward a certain medication, the
HAART regime requires 3 different drugs from 2 different drug classes. It is used to
from multiplying and destroying your infection-fighting CD4 cells, as well it
decreases your viral load. A viral load is the number of copies of HIV within an
infected body. It is measured as the number of copies of a specific virus in one
millimeter of fluid (copies/ml). It is important for a diseased person to regularly
measure his/hers viral load in order to monitor the progression of HIV infection and
the accomplishment of HIV treatment. HAART therapy consist of 3 different
prescriptions taken daily, a candidates viral load is only one of the factors which
affect the choice of the 3 various medications. Other factors include the particular
strain of the virus, CD4+ cell count and other concerns such as specific symptoms
caused by the virus. HAART isnt a cure, but it can control the virus so that you can
live a longer, healthier life and reduce the risk of transmitting HIV to others.
Even though the risk of transmission of the virus through unprotected sex while
on HAART therapy is low, you cannot assume that the odds are on your side. Even
though you are under the influence of medication, your body is weak because of the
virus side effects resulting in higher infection dependencies. Studies have shown
that a person under a therapy regime, to be more specific HART regime is at a
higher vulnerability risk for developing diabetes, hypertension, and chronic kidney
disease. Your mineral bone density is lowered if your body is infected by the virus,
HAART therapy amplifies this effect and this can lead to possible fractures. Because
the prothema inhibitors can be toxic to the liver during treatment, your body is
likely to develop hepatitis. If the liver has become intoxicated, this can reduce the
body's ability to fight infection and can increases the potential for bleeding. As
every therapy treatment, side effect can occur, but there are greater advantages
than disadvantages within this problem. 20 years ago, AIDS was a deadly infectious
disease spreading over continents, it is remarkable to see that we have transformed
it into a chronic illness, well at least for patients with access to medication. Since
the HAART era has begun, to be more precise 1997. The excess mortality among
HIV positive patients has nearly halved, with patients who are also suffering with
AIDS, it remains approximately 5 times higher.
If we talk about acquiring HIV, it is the most important to know the prevention,
because prevention goes before cure. As I have already mentioned, HIV is a sexually
transmitted disease, anally, orally or vaginally, even though the most risky is the
anal opening due to its sensitivity (thin inner rectum lining). For this, there is a
cheap and efficient way out, condoms. The rubber on the condoms protect you from
inhibition of the virus. Before the use of condoms, to ensure a higher safety rate, it
is important to limit your sexual partners. The more partners you have, there is a
greater risk of your partner having HIV whose viral load is not suppressed or even
has a different STD. Both of these factors increase the risk of receiving HIV. With
newer discoveries you can now receive pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). PrEP is HIV
medication which is taken daily in small doses to prevent an HIV infection. But, it is

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better to go with condoms, they are both cheaper and safer. Many drug users tend
to share injection needles, but HIV can be transmitted through blood (for exp. An
open wound), resulting in a successful transition of HIV. It is very important for us to
aware the population of prevention ways to stop the speeding of the virus. Even
with new medical advances, your word can be more than enough. To conclude, we
can say that by prevention we get the most wanted results, but the HAART regime
isnt half as bad. Even though you will still have the virus in your system, you will be
able to live a full and long life, and before this wasnt the case.

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