Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in the elderly.

Recent data from the US show that since 1990 the number of paediatric patients with AIDS is decreasing while the number of patients with AIDS over age 50 years is increasing. To date, little attention has been given to understanding AIDS risk-taking behaviours, clinical presentations, and therapeutic needs of middle-aged and older HIV-infected individuals. Older HIV-infected individuals deteriorate more rapidly than younger patients due to an accelerated loss of CD4+ helper T cells. Despite recognised age-related physiological differences between young and elderly individuals, scant information about drug optimisation for the treatment of AIDS in older individuals is available. More data need to be collected about this group of AIDS patients, and appropriate treatment strategies designed for their special needs.