ERS | monograph Introduction Charles Feldman1, Eva Polverino2 and Julio A. Ramirez3 Despite significant advances in the overall management of patients, including the use of various preventative strategies, chemoprophylaxis and ART, the burden of disease worldwide that is due to HIV infection remains high, particularly in low-income countries. The major impact of HIV infection falls on the respiratory system, with the spectrum of conditions that complicate HIV infection spanning a myriad of respiratory conditions. These include both infectious diseases (particularly TB, CAP, PCP and various other opportunistic infections) and noninfectious diseases (such as COPD and asthma, bronchiectasis, lung cancer, diffuse parenchymal lung disorders and pulmonary vascular disorders). While ART has had a very positive impact on the management of HIV infection, patients still continue to develop complications that are related to HIV infection, many of which are linked with lifestyle, such as ongoing smoking, alcohol consumption and drug use. The introduction of ART itself may occasionally be associated with the development of respiratory and systemic manifestations as a consequence of IRIS. It is therefore with delight that we introduce this Monograph, which comprehensively addresses the very numerous and diverse conditions that may be associated with and complicate HIV infection. The chapters span the spectrum of infectious and noninfectious diseases, and address issues both in paediatric and adult populations. Each of the 19 chapters is written by acknowledged experts in the field and provides a comprehensive description of the conditions associated with HIV infection. The authors provide state-of-the-art updates on the different areas discussed, and many chapters include recommendations for the management of the various conditions. Topics discussed include: the epidemiology of HIV infection current antiretroviral recommendations communicable and non-communicable diseases and their treatment and prevention HIV infection in pregnancy, and the diagnostic and therapeutic implications for the newborn complications in paediatric practice transplantation and IRIS in patients on ART. It is becoming increasingly common for physicians to encounter patients with HIV infection in their daily practice, and it is hoped that this Monograph will provide an interesting and informative insight into the various complications that may occur in these patients. 1 Division of Pulmonology, Dept of Internal Medicine, Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital and Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. 2 Dept of Pneumology, Institut Clinic del Torax, ´ Hospital Clinic of Barcelona – Institut d’Investigacions Biomediques ` August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona (UB) – SGR 911 – Ciber de Enfermedades Respiratorias (Ciberes), Barcelona, Spain. 3 Division of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA. Correspondence: Charles Feldman, Division of Pulmonology, Dept of Internal Medicine, University of Witwatersrand, Medical School, 7 York Road, Parktown, 2193, Johannesburg, South Africa. E-mail: Charles.Feldman@wits.ac.za Copyright ERS 2014. Print ISBN: 978-1-84984-054-5. Online ISBN: 978-1-84984-055-2. Print ISSN: 2312-508X. Online ISSN: 2312-5098. xii ERS Monogr 2014 66: xii. DOI: 10.1183/2312508X.10016214