Abstract

ANTIRETROVIRAL DRUGS- A GLOBAL SCENARIO AND OVERVIEW

Venkatesan N.*, Ramanathan M. and Dr. P. Solairaj

ABSTRACT

The NRTIS act by competitive inhibition of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase and can also be incorporated into the growing viral DNA chain to cause termination. Each requires intracytoplasmic activation via phosphorylation by cellular enzymes to the triphosphate form. Most have activity against HIV-2 as well as HIV-1. Nucleoside analogs may be associated with mitochondrial toxicity, probably owing to inhibition of mitochondrial DNA polymerase gamma, and they can increase the risk of lactic acidosis with hepatic steatosis, which may be fatal, as well as disorders of lipid metabolism. NRTI treatment should be suspended in the setting of rapidly rising aminotransferase levels, progressive hepatomegaly, or metabolic acidosis of unknown cause.

Keywords: Knowledge of viral dynamics through the use of viral load.