HIV infection, sexual dysfunction and HAART, what are the interactions?

Sexual dysfunction (SD) is a prevalent medical problem among HIV-positive men that reduces their quality of life, and can influence adherence and safe sexual behavior. Several studies showed a relationship between SD and highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). However, it is unclear which antiretroviral regimens can cause SD. Our hypothesis is that HAART-induced SD can be caused by the mitochondrial toxicity and / or endocrinological effects of the products used. The new Truvada + raltegravir regimen is known as a treatment with minimal side effects. It is our experience that HAART-treated individuals who complain about SD see a marked improvement when switching to a treatment containing raltegravir. However, this finding must be further investigated in a controlled study. Therefore, we propose a randomized clinical trial in HIV-positive men to study the role of different antiretroviral regimens and the pathophysiological mechanisms of HAART-induced SD.