Open AccessCD4 CELL COUNT CRITERIA TO DETERMINE WHEN TO INITIATE ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY IN HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS-INFECTED CHILDREN
Author(s) -
Jurai Wongsawat,
Thanyawee Puthanakit,
Suparat Kanjanavanit,
Rawiwan Hansudewechakul,
Chaiwat Ngampiyaskul,
Stephen J. Kerr,
Sasiwimol Ubolyam,
Tulathip Suwanlerk,
Pope Kosalaraksa,
Wicharn Luesomboon,
Nicole NgoGiangHuong,
Chandara Mom,
Vonthanak Saphonn,
Kiat Ruxrungtham,
Jintanat Ananworanich
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
the pediatric infectious disease journal/the pediatric infectious disease journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.028
H-Index - 140
eISSN - 1532-0987
pISSN - 0891-3668
DOI - 10.1097/inf.0b013e3181e0554c
Subject(s) - guideline , antiretroviral therapy , medicine , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , immunology , pediatrics , virology , viral load , pathology
We evaluated the validity of CD4 count against CD4% criteria of 2008 World Health Organization guideline for initiating antiretroviral therapy using the data of 446 human immunodeficiency virus-infected Asian children aged 1 to 12 years who were screened to the Pediatric Randomized of Early versus Deferred Initiation in Cambodia and Thailand study. The overall sensitivity and specificity were 34% and 98%, respectively. Using the current CD4 count criteria would globally result in 66% missed opportunity to initiate treatment in a timely fashion. Raising CD4 count thresholds should be considered to increase its sensitivity and reduce missed opportunity.