Sustained immunological responses to highly active antiretroviral therapy at 36 months in a Ghanaian HIV cohort
Collini, P.; Schwab, U.; Sarfo, S.; Obeng-Baah, J.; Norman, B.; Chadwick, D.; Bibby, D.; Bedu-Addo, G.
Clinical Infectious Diseases An Official Publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America 48(7): 988-991
2009
ISSN/ISBN: 1537-6591 PMID: 19231976 DOI: 10.1086/597353Document Number: 205001
Two hundred thirty-seven Ghanaian human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients who were starting antiretroviral therapy underwent clinical and immunological monitoring for 3 years. Seventy-eight percent of patients had disease classified as World Health Organization stage III or IV. The mean increase in the CD4 cell count was 395 cells/mm(3), 13% of patients experienced immunological failure, and 8% of patients switched treatment to a second-line regimen. However, two-thirds of patients who experienced immunological failure did not switch treatment, and 31% of all patients were lost to follow-up.