Due to the increase in antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Southern Africa, a revised set of guidelines for ART in adults was published by the Southern African HIV Clinicians Society in the September issue of the Southern African Journal of HIV Medicine.
As new data on antiretroviral (ARV) tolerability in the region and several new ARV drugs have become available, the guidelines have been revised to reflect these changes, particularly in relation to the expansion around third-line (or ‘salvage’) therapy.
According to the amended guidelines, while cohort studies from the region showed excellent clinical outcomes, ART is still being started late (in advanced disease), resulting in relatively high early mortality rates.
The guidelines are updated from a previous 2008 publication in the Southern African Journal of HIV Medicine and cover a range of items including: standards of care, indications for starting ART, ARV agents and their availability in Southern Africa, classes of ARV agents, starting ART with patients with TB, and coinfection with Hepatitus B, Malaria, liver impairment, among others.
Leave a Reply