Monday, December 5, 2011

Systemic Conditions Related to HIV/AIDS

Systemic Conditions Related to HIV/AIDS

In addition to HIV-related infections and cancers, there are a number of other conditions that can affect patients who have HIV/AIDS. These disorders are generally referred to as "systemic conditions."

Antiretroviral therapy can help prevent many AIDS-related systemic conditions, including wasting syndrome, generalized lymphadenopathy, low blood count, and HIV-related gall bladder disease. If antiretrovirals do not prevent the onset of illness, or if the patient starts therapy after a condition has already developed, antiretroviral drugs make the condition much easier to treat.

A few HIV-related systemic conditions, such as lipodystrophy (abnormal metabolism of fat), elevated cholesterol, and possibly diabetes, are actually more common with, and may even be caused by antiretroviral therapy.

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