HIV Survival Benefit Associated with Earlier Antiviral Therapy
Authors: Amanda Mocroft, Andrew N. Phillips, Jens D. Lundgren
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2004)

Letters6 April 2004HIV Survival Benefit Associated with Earlier Antiviral TherapyAmanda Mocroft, PhD, Andrew N. Phillips, PhD, and Jens D. Lundgren, MDAmanda Mocroft, PhDFrom Royal Free Centre for HIV Medicine, Royal Free and University College Medical School, London NW32PF, United Kingdom; and Copenhagen HIV Program, Hvidovre Hospital, DK-2650 Hvidovre, Denmark.Search for more papers by this author, Andrew N. Phillips, PhDFrom Royal Free Centre for HIV Medicine, Royal Free and University College Medical School, London NW32PF, United Kingdom; and Copenhagen HIV Program, Hvidovre Hospital, DK-2650 Hvidovre, Denmark.Search for more papers by this author, and Jens D. Lundgren, MDFrom Royal Free Centre for HIV Medicine, Royal Free and University College Medical School, London NW32PF, United Kingdom; and Copenhagen HIV Program, Hvidovre Hospital, DK-2650 Hvidovre, Denmark.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-140-7-200404060-00024 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:Palella and colleagues (1) found that initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) at CD4+ cell counts of 0.201 to 0.350×109 cells/L was associated with reduced mortality compared with delayed ART. Their study included patients who were followed from 1994 to 2002, so the results partly reflect the era before widespread use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). We wonder whether calendar year was accounted for in the models and whether restriction of results to patients with time zero after 1996 affected the findings.Another relevant point is that patients with CD4 cell counts of 0.201 to 0.350×109 cells/L ...References1. Palella FJ, Deloria-Knoll M, Chmiel JS, Moorman AC, Wood KC, Greenberg AE, et al . Survival benefit of initiating antiretroviral therapy in HIV-infected persons in different CD4+ cell strata. Ann Intern Med. 2003;138:620-6. [PMID: 12693883] LinkGoogle Scholar2. Yeni PG, Hammer SM, Carpenter CC, Cooper DA, Fischl MA, Gatell JM, et al . Antiretroviral treatment for adult HIV infection in 2002: updated recommendations of the International AIDS Society-USA Panel. JAMA. 2002;288:222-35. [PMID: 12095387] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Mellors JW, Munoz A, Giorgi JV, Margolick JB, Tassoni CJ, Gupta P, et al . Plasma viral load and CD4+ lymphocytes as prognostic markers of HIV-1 infection. Ann Intern Med. 1997;126:946-54. [PMID: 9182471] LinkGoogle Scholar4. Chene G, Sterne JA, May M, Costagliola D, Ledergerber B, Phillips AN, et al . Prognostic importance of initial response in HIV-1 infected patients starting potent antiretroviral therapy: analysis of prospective studies. Lancet. 2003;362:679-86. [PMID: 12957089] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Amanda Mocroft, PhD; Andrew N. Phillips, PhD; Jens D. Lundgren, MDAffiliations: From Royal Free Centre for HIV Medicine, Royal Free and University College Medical School, London NW32PF, United Kingdom; and Copenhagen HIV Program, Hvidovre Hospital, DK-2650 Hvidovre, Denmark. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoPlasma Viral Load and CD4+ Lymphocytes as Prognostic Markers of HIV-1 Infection John W. Mellors , Alvaro Munoz , Janis V. Giorgi , Joseph B. Margolick , Charles J. Tassoni , Phalguni Gupta , Lawrence A. Kingsley , John A. Todd , Alfred J. Saah , Roger Detels , John P. Phair , and Charles R. Rinaldo Jr. Survival Benefit of Initiating Antiretroviral Therapy in HIV-Infected Persons in Different CD4+ Cell Strata Frank J. Palella Jr. , Maria Deloria-Knoll , Joan S. Chmiel , Anne C. Moorman , Kathleen C. Wood , Alan E. Greenberg , Scott D. Holmberg , and HIV Survival Benefit Associated with Earlier Antiviral Therapy Frank J. Palella Jr. , Joan S. Chmiel , and Scott D. Holmberg Metrics Cited byPhysical Functioning Among Patients Aging With Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Versus HIV Uninfected: Feasibility of Using the Short Physical Performance Battery in Clinical Care of People Living With HIV Aged 50 or OlderAnalysis of serious non-AIDS events among HIV-infected adults at Latin American sitesMyocardial disease in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection: a reviewThe Case for Earlier Treatment of HIV Infection 6 April 2004Volume 140, Issue 7Page: 578-579KeywordsAntiretroviral therapyAntiviral therapyHIVHighly active antiretroviral therapyMortalityToxicityViral load ePublished: 6 April 2004 Issue Published: 6 April 2004 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2004 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...