[HIV infection and long-term health: therapeutically attainable?]

New knowledges about the pathogenesis of HIV-induced immune deficiency syndrome suggest that a change of the natural history of HIV disease by support with antiviral medicaments will be possible. Most important insights are the non-existence of a viral latency phase and the existence of a strong correlation between active viral replication and loss of immunological capacity. Monitoring of HIV replication for detection of efficacy of antiviral therapies is necessary. Potent combinations of antiviral drugs seem to decrease the tendency for development of drug resistant viruses. It seems to be possible to remain healthy for a long time by effective drugs.