HIV/AIDS의 진단 및 임상양상

Abstract

There are various diagnostic methods for detection of HIV infection. Among them, ELISA has been using most widely as a screening test. On the other hand, the Western blot method has been used as a confirmative test. The final confirmative tests are conducted on the seropositive sample and other supplementary methods such as HIV antigen test or molecular tests involving polymerase chain reaction should be performed in addition to Western blot for the confirmation. The clinical consequences of HIV infection encompass a spectrum ranging from an acute syndrome associated with primary infection to a prolonged asymptomatic state and advanced disease. It is best to regard HIV disease as beginning at the time of primary infection and progressing through various stages. Throughout the course of HIV infection, active viral replication and progressive immunologic impairment occur in most patients. With the exception of rare true long-term nonprogressors, HIV disease, when untreated, inexorably progresses even during the clinically latent stage. However, anti-retroviral therapy has had a major impact on blocking or slowing the progression of disease over extended periods of time in a substantial proportion of adequately treated patients. Overall, the clinical spectrum of HIV disease is constantly changing as patients live longer and new and better approaches to treatment and prophylaxis are developed.