CD4 Lymphocyte Count as a Predictor of the Duration of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy–Induced Suppression of Human ImmunodeficiencyVirus Load

The association between CD4 cell count and duration of virus load suppression was investigated in 558 patients in the Frankfurt HIV Clinic Cohort who had begun highly active antiretroviral therapy and who had virus load declines to 500 copies/mL; P=.0001). Baseline virus load was not associated with virus load rebound. Lower baseline CD4 cell counts were associated with increased risk of viral rebound; however, this risk was significantly reduced in persons with low baseline CD4 cell counts who experienced substantial increases in CD4 cell counts during follow-up.