Open AccessIMPACT OF CD4 T CELL COUNT ON THE OUTCOME OF PLANNED TREATMENT INTERRUPTIONS IN EARLY-TREATED HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS-INFECTED CHILDREN
Author(s) -
Clàudia Fortuny,
Antoni NogueraJulian,
Laia Alsina,
Rocío Bellido,
Emília Sánchez,
Carmen Muñoz-Almagro,
Lı́dia Ruiz,
Rafael Jiménez
Publication year - 2011
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.0b013e3181ff8661
Subject(s) - medicine , antiretroviral therapy , immunology , viral disease , sida , immunodeficiency , immunopathology , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , virus , nadir , antiretroviral treatment , cd4 t cell , viral load , pediatrics , t cell , immune system , satellite , engineering , aerospace engineering
Early highly active antiretroviral therapy is recommended in all vertically human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected infants. We describe the long-term immunologic outcome after planned treatment interruption (PTI) in 7 children diagnosed and treated during acute HIV infection (age <12 weeks). Children had remained a median of 57 months off treatment, 3 of them indefinitely. The 2 patients with the lowest nadir CD4% reinitiated highly active antiretroviral therapy because of a CD4 cell decline of <20%; 2 children resumed treatment because of clinical progression and parents' wishes. All patients experienced a decrease in CD4% after PTI, which particularly affected the naive subpopulation. The interferon-γ response against HIV-p24 antigen directly correlated with nadir CD4%. Our results suggest that early treatment in HIV-infected infants increases their potential to safely control viral replication after PTI for long periods.