Reynolds SJ, Sempa JB, Kiragga AN,Newell K, Nakigozi G, Galiwango R, Gray R, Quinn TC, Serwadda D, Chang L
AIDS Patient Care STDS.2014 Oct 7. PMCID:PMC4227437
Abstract
It is unclear whether ongoing CD4 monitoring is needed following immunologic and virologic response to antiretroviral therapy (ART). We investigated the proportion of clients who achieved a virologic and immunologic response and then had a subsequent CD4 count <200 cells/μL despite continued virologic suppression. Included in this analysis were clients receiving ART through the Rakai Health Sciences Program between June 2004-May 2013 who achieved a CD4 ≥200 cells/μL and VL ≤400 copies/mL and who had three sets of CD4 and VL measurements (defined as a sequence) within a 390 day period. A CD4 decline was defined as any drop in CD4 count to <200 cells/μL during a period of viral suppression. A total of 1553 clients were included, 68% females, mean age of 35.5 years (SD 8.3), median baseline CD4 count 183 cells/μL (IQR 106-224). 43 (2.8%) clients developed CD4 declines, the majority, 32/43 (74%), among individuals whose initial CD4 was <300 cells/μL. Of the 43 clients with CD4 declines, 24 had an additional CD4 measurement and 20/24 (83%) achieved a CD4 ≥200 cell/μL on their next measurement (median 285 cells/μL; IQR 220-365). CD4 declines were significantly greater among those with lower CD4 at sequence initiation [adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) 4.3 (95% CI 2.1, 9.0) CD4 200-249 versus ≥350 cells/μL]. Clients who achieved an immunologic and virologic response to ART were unlikely to experience a subsequent CD4 count decline to <200 cells/μL, and among those experiencing a decline, the majority were transient in nature. Thus, ongoing CD4 monitoring could be omitted.