HIV/AIDS

Human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, is a virus that, if not treated, can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Disease and treatment overview
HIV attacks CD4 cells (T helper cells) in the immune system; if untreated this reduces the body's ability to fight off infection as well as infection-related cancers. The appearance of such opportunistic infections or cancers indicate HIV has advanced to AIDS. However, a combination of multiple antiretroviral drugs, known as highly-active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), introduced in the mid-1990s, can effectively control HIV. Taken as prescribed, HAART can reduce an HIV patient's viral load (amount of HIV in their blood) to the point of being undetectable, allowing them to live in good health and have effectively no risk of transmitting the virus so long as the virus stays at undetectable levels. If HIV is diagnosed and treated before the disease is advanced, someone living with the illness can have nearly the same life expectancy as a person without HIV.

Researchers
Several major ME/CFS researchers and clinicians also work on or formerly worked on HIV/AIDS, including Drs. Avindra Nath, Hector Bonilla, Derya Unutmaz, David Kaufman, and Nancy Klimas.

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 * "A Tale of Two Viruses: Why AIDS Was Pinned to HIV, but Chronic Fatigue Remains a Mystery" by Vincent Racaniello, January 12, 2012, Discover magazine blog