ABSTRACT
The role of opportunistic diseases in daily clinical routine is once again expanding. The signs of a change in the trend towards increasing incidence observed in the year 2000 have unfortunately been confirmed. The risk of contracting an opportunistic infection can be estimated with the aid of the CD4 cell count and the viral burden. CM viremia can also be employed as a predictor if highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) fails to cure cytomegaly. In the age of HAART, the spectrum of diseases resulting in hospitalization of HIV patients has undergone a change. A notable increase has been observed in hospitalizations for toxic side effects of medication, respiratory infections and liver diseases, in particular hepatitis. Following the introduction of HAART, the mortality rate of HIV-infected patients dramatically decreased, but the results of an American study show that, since 1999. It is on the increase again.
