The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has been isolated in France in 1983 by the team of Professor Luc Montagniet. This virus is at origin of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Due to the increasing number of infected people, the AIDS remain at the present time a problem of public health. According to the UNO/AIDS report on the world epidemic of the AIDS 2013, the number of People Living with the HIV (PLHIV) is estimated at the end of 2012 to 35.3 (32.2-38.8) millions. This rise is due to a meaningful expansion of the access to the antiretroviral treatment that contributes to reduce the deaths caused by the AIDS, and not due to the new infections whose number continues to fall: 2.3 (1.9-2.7) millions of infections in 2012, either a reduction of 33% compared to the 3.4 (3.1-3.7) millions of 2001. The number of deceased people of the AIDS fell to 1.6 (1.4-1.9) million in 2012, a number decreasing of 30% in relation to the peak reaches in 2005: 2.3 (2.1-2.6) millions. The antiretroviral treatment transformed the natural history of the HIV infection with a meaningful reduction of morbidity and mortality, notably linked to the opportunist infections. As all treatment, the antiretroviral treatment can provoke the undesirable effects complicating the handling of the patients infected by the HIV; these undesirable effects can occur precociously or longer-term and to be benign or serious.

This special issue is to improve the dissemination of advanced research in the area of undesirable effects of the antiretroviral treatment. Original research papers are solicited in any aspect of this area.