Pharmacologic consideration for the use of antiretroviral agents in the elderly.

The prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection among people older than 50 years is increasing. HIV-infected patients require lifelong treatment with antiretroviral agents to suppress viral replication and maintain immune function. The use of antiretroviral agents in the elderly can be complicated by multiple chronic comorbidities and coadministered non-HIV medications. The pharmacokinetics of antiretroviral agents may be altered due to age-related decrements in hepatic and renal function. The elderly may be more sensitive than younger people to antiretroviral drug toxicity. A better understanding of the pharmacokinetics of antiretroviral agents in the elderly is of importance for the successful management of complex antiretroviral regimens in this population.