Immunologic issues in anti-retroviral therapy.

A number of drugs acting at different stages of viral replication have been shown to be effective anti-HIV agents in the laboratory, and several have been found to be active in patients. It has become evident that inhibition of viral replication in HIV-infected patients will result in an improvement in their immune function. However, as Robert Yarchoan, Hiroaki Mitsuya and Samuel Broder point out, complete immunoreconstitution generally does not occur in patients with established AIDS using currently available therapies. It is important to understand the factors that limit immunologic improvement in such patients so that more effective therapy can be devised.