Results from a recent study indicate that individuals who rapidly suppress HIV during their first year of antiretroviral therapy recover CD4 cells faster and better. Individuals with slower declines during the first year and throughout therapy regained significantly fewer CD4 cells.

The study authors also found that periods of detectable HIV raise the chances of disease progression.

Based on their results, the authors concluded that the rate of viral load decline after starting treatment, rather than just whether HIV is detectable or not, is important for predicting a person’s immune…

Results from a recent study indicate that people with HIV who start early antiretroviral therapy, particularly with a protease inhibitor-based regimen, recover CD4 cell counts more quickly. Additionally, younger people also had faster CD4 recovery.

The Australian researchers said their findings provide further support for earlier initiation of antiretroviral therapy in people with HIV, particularly with a protease inhibitor-based regimen.

“The later you start therapy, the longer the time you spend with a low CD4 count. [Our study] also shows that in quite a significant number of patients, CD4 [counts]…

Results from a recent Brazilian study indicate that, even when antiretroviral therapy in HIV-positive children is only partially effective at reducing viral loads, most children experience improved CD4 cell counts.

“Our study showed a good capacity for immunological recovery in pediatric patients infected by HIV, with CD4 response maintenance in subsequent years,” said Dr. Lílian Diniz, lead investigator of the study, in correspondence with The AIDS Beacon.

“Children in treatment without viral response are still able to recover their CD4 [percentages] to good levels,” she added. “Immunological and virological response…

Results from a recent small study indicate that people with HIV who start antiretroviral treatment early and take it consistently long-term have high immune system functionality and low residual virus levels that are similar to those in HIV controllers, also called long-term non-progressors.

The study authors stated that their results provide further evidence for the importance of early antiretroviral treatment. However, the results need to be confirmed by additional, larger studies on the immune function of long-term non-progressors versus people who start treatment early.

HIV controllers, also known as  long-term…

In a recently released study, researchers found that the risk of developing AIDS-related complications for people with HIV drops significantly six months after achieving viral suppression, even for people who have poor CD4 cell count recovery. However, the study did find people with poor CD4 recovery are at higher risk of AIDS-related illnesses during this time.

The researchers concluded that since the overall occurrence of AIDS-defining illnesses was low once viral suppression was reached, even in people with poor CD4 (white blood cell) recovery, the primary goal for health care…