HIV – Is a cure possible?

HIV is a chronic well manageable disease. Highly active antiretroviral therapy improves the quality of life of people living with HIV, but the treatment has to be continued lifelong, as the total cure has not been established. Cost of treatment, drug toxicities, interaction with other drugs and persistence of inflammation and acceleration of the aging process, all put together, warrant an urgent need for a total cure. Even though one case had been proved to be cured, still a practical cure is far beyond the reach. Numerous approaches and strategies had been put forth to achieve a cure; still they are to be proved with human studies. This article reviews the major approaches, recent advances in the venture of HIV cure, and the safety concerns involved.