CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE AND HIV-INFECTION

The increasing life expectancy of HIV-infected persons due to antiretroviral therapy (ART) is associated with growing frequency of non-opportunistic respiratory diseases. This review of literature is devoted to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which is known to be the most common chronic noninfectious lung condition in HIV-patients. The prevalence of COPD in the global population with HIV is high and is associated with HIV. The article contains actual data on HIV/COPD comorbidity, presents current information on mechanism of COPD development in HIV-infection, factors contributing to the mutual influence and adverse course of comorbid conditions. The specialties of COPD treatment during ART and clinically significant drug interactions between different COPD medications and some antiretrovirals are highlighted. The socio-economic significance of both HIV-infection and COPD argues wide informing of pulmonologists, therapists and infectious disease specialists about the course and treatment of COPD in persons with HIV-infection. © Irina B