HIV makes kidney health difficult to maintain, experts say

Antiretroviral therapy allows HIV-positive people to live longer lives, increasing the likelihood that they will die of organ failure from afflictions like kidney disease, according to the AIDS Beacon.

In a three-part series, the online news source reported that advances in antiretroviral therapy have allowed individuals with HIV to avoid opportunistic infections long enough to die of organ failure.

Kidney disease is one of the most common chronic organ disorders among that population, with an estimated 30 percent suffering from kidney disease, it added.

Approximately one in 10 HIV patients will die of kidney failure, the Beacon said.

Dialysis, during which machines filter the blood, is a common treatment for end-stage renal failure. Recent research has also determined that kidney transplantation may be a viable option for individuals with HIV, even taking their need for immunosuppression into account.

However, compared to these treatment options, preventing HIV transmission in the first place is the most effective method of avoiding organ failure caused by the virus. Screening for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) by purchasing online testing services can help individuals maintain their sexual health.

Currently, more than 56,000 Americans contract HIV every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.