HAART-related nephropathies in HIV-infected patients

There is no doubt that highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has been the most important progress in the therapy of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients in the last decade. A growing number of observations suggest that the beneficial effects of HAART also include improvement of HIV-related renal complications. Consequently, the cohort of HIV-infected patients requiring HAART has increased and includes patients with preexisting nephropathies, whether related or unrelated to HIV infection. However, some antiretroviral drugs may have renal- and life-threatening side-effects, especially if underlying renal abnormalities exist. In this review, we focus on those aspects that require particular attention in preventing new health complications in HIV-infected patients.