Final answer:
Physicians use NRTIs and PIs in HIV treatment to decrease the viral load to undetectable levels, maintain immune function, prevent opportunistic infections, and reduce transmission risk. These drugs target different stages of the HIV life-cycle, overcoming resistance by using a combination therapy approach. This has turned HIV from a fatal disease into a manageable chronic condition.
Step-by-step explanation:
Goals of Using NRTIs and PIs in HIV Treatment
With the introduction of Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART), which comprises nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) and protease inhibitors (PIs), the treatment of HIV has fundamentally changed. Physicians hope to achieve various goals with the administration of NRTIs and PIs. These antiretroviral drugs work by targeting different stages of the HIV life-cycle, with NRTIs blocking the conversion of HIV RNA into DNA, and PIs preventing the processing of viral proteins necessary for the maturation of new virions.
The primary aim is to reduce the patient's viral load to undetectable levels, maintaining the function of the immune system, and preventing the development of opportunistic infections. Consistent treatment with these medications allows individuals living with HIV to have longer and healthier lives and significantly reduces the risk of virus transmission. Addressing drug resistance, which can emerge due to the high mutation rates of HIV, is an ongoing challenge in treatment plans, necessitating the use of drug 'cocktails' to impede multiple stages of replication simultaneously.
While there is no cure currently for HIV or AIDS, the use of a strategic combination of NRTIs, PIs, and other antiretroviral drugs constitutes the highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), which continues to be the cornerstone of HIV management. This treatment approach has turned HIV from a fatal disease to a manageable chronic condition for those who have access to these medications.