Untreated HIV: harmful even at high CD4 cell counts.

摘要

HIV-infected individuals with low CD4 cell counts and advanced immune suppression have a high mortality rate. But what is the effect of untreated HIV infection in individuals at an earlier stage of disease who have CD4 cell counts that put them at a lower risk for AIDS-related complications? In The Lancet today, Rebecca Lodwick and colleagues examine whether people with higher CD4 counts, who have not received antiretroviral therapy, have higher mortality than the general population. These investigators combined data from 23 cohorts and collaborations (18 European and five North American), and focus on 40 830 adults with at least one CD4 cell count greater than 350 cells per u±, and up to 1 year of follow-up.