Current antiretroviral therapy: an overview.

Advances in the understanding of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) pathogenesis, clinical assessment with viral load testing and the availability of potent combination antiretroviral therapy regimens have led to significant changes in options for HIV-infected patients. From the first approved antiretroviral agent, zidovudine (AZT), through two-drug nucleoside analogue regimens, to the current three-drug combination regimens with protease inhibitors, both the benefits of therapy and the complexities of therapy continue to increase. With the clinical benefits come associated lifestyle constraints and, thus, the impact and assessment of potent antiretroviral therapy on patient quality of life (QoL) becomes increasingly complicated.