Human immunodeficiency virus infection in women

The AIDS epidemic has now entered the second decade. Numerous changes have occurred during first 10 years, including definition of the causative agent and development of many therapies for both the primary disease and its complications. The populations at risk have also changed, and women now represent a major group, the gender-specific issues of whom need to be addressed. This demographic change may require the consideration of changes in diagnostic criteria and the involvement of women in clinical trials. Large multidisciplinary, longitudinal studies of women infected with HIV must be done.