Antiretrovirals for HIV Exposure Prophylaxis

• Published in: Current medicinal chemistry Vol. 19; no. 35; p. 5924
• Main Authors: Nikolopoulos, G, Tsiodras, S, Bonovas, S, Hatzakis, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United Arab Emirates 01.12.2012
• Subjects: Adenine - analogs & derivatives; Adenine - pharmacology; Adenine - therapeutic use; Anti-HIV Agents - pharmacology; Anti-HIV Agents - therapeutic use; Deoxycytidine - analogs & derivatives; Deoxycytidine - pharmacology; Deoxycytidine - therapeutic use; Dideoxynucleosides - pharmacology; Dideoxynucleosides - therapeutic use; Emtricitabine; HIV - drug effects; HIV Infections - drug therapy; HIV Infections - prevention & control; Humans; Lamivudine - pharmacology; Lamivudine - therapeutic use; Occupational Exposure; Organophosphonates - pharmacology; Organophosphonates - therapeutic use; Stavudine - pharmacology; Stavudine - therapeutic use; Tenofovir; Zidovudine - pharmacology; Zidovudine - therapeutic use
• ISSN: 1875-533X
• DOI: 10.2174/092986712804485854

Infection with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) remains a global public health problem. Although the epidemic has not been completely controlled, there was considerable progress in HIV prevention and treatment during the last 30 years. The modern prevention approaches are multi-component including also the administration of combinations of potent antiretroviral agents as a prophylaxis after occupational or non-occupational exposures to HIV. The aim of the current review is to present the chemical and pharmacological characteristics of antiretroviral drugs used in HIV prophylaxis and to describe briefly the medical management of exposures to potentially infectious body fluids.