Comprehensive Nursing Pharmacology Q 211
Which of the following statements is true about combination therapy for the treatment of HIV disease?
A. It completely shuts off replication of HIV.
B. Is the only FDA-approved treatment for HIV disease.
C. It appears to cause a sustained benefit achieved by drug no. 1 preventing the emergence of resistance to drug no. 2 despite resistance to drug no. 1.
D. It is only effective if used alternating with periods of monotherapy.
Correct Answer: C. It appears to cause a sustained benefit achieved by drug no. 1 preventing the emergence of resistance to drug no. 2 despite resistance to drug no. 1
Combination therapy is superior to monotherapy at this time for reasons described in this choice. This form of therapy is recommended for all patients with HIV by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the World Health Organization (WHO). This daily treatment of multiple HIV medications is an HIV regimen.
Option A: A typical initial HIV regimen includes three HIV medications from a minimum of two drug classes. Although this treatment is not curative, it can provide longer lives for patients and reduce HIV transmission. This reduction of transmission has become a popular use of antiretroviral therapy for individuals who are HIV-positive and are with an HIV-negative partner.
Option B: The FDA does not approve of investigational HIV drugs. Investigational drugs include those used to treat or prevent HIV and vaccines to treat or prevent HIV. These drugs are only available in clinical trials. No vaccines exist yet; however, researchers are studying this possibility.
Option D: The successes of antiretroviral therapy have reduced HIV to a chronic condition in many parts of the world as progression to AIDS has become rare. Studies have found that 3-drug therapy has led to a 60% to 80% decline in rates of AIDs, hospitalization, and death. By 2030 the CDC plans to implement a 90-90-90 plan (90% HIV diagnosed, 90% on therapy, and 90% suppressed).