Antiretroviral therapy related side effects: Evaluation of 260 HIV/AIDS cases

Purpose: since introduction of antiretroviral therapy (art), hiv-related mortality has decreased and quality of life in hiv/aids patients has improved. art is quite complicated due to side effects, drug interractions, adherence and drug resistance problems. in this study, we aimed to determine the side effects related to art among hiv/aids patients followed by our outpatient clinic. materials and methods: hiv/aids patients followed by the infectious diseases and clinical microbiology hiv/ aids outpatient clinic between january 2006 and december 2011 were included in this study. medical records were reviewed to determine the prevalence of side effects, causes and results in hiv/aids patients on art. results: of the 260 hiv/aids patients 171(65.7%) were under art. among these, the number of patients with art related side effects was 123 (72.0%). the most frequent side effects were neuropsychiatric complications (30.4%), diarrhea (9.3%) and hyperlipidemia (16.9%). art regimen was changed in 13 (7.6%) of the patients had art related side effects. conclusion: the prevalence of art related side effects are common and it may decrease drug adherence. hence, close monitoring of art toxicities in hiv/aids patients on art assumes great importance.