title: [Epidemiological, clinical, immunological and virological characteristics of HIV-1 infected patients at the moment of initiation of antiretroviral therapy].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was epidemiological, immunological and virological analysis of the cohort of the HIV-1 infected patients (pts) who had started highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis of pts. data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  138 pts., mainly men, had started HAART since January 1996 till December 2000. Risk groups for HIV infection were as follows: IVDU: 63.8%, heterosexual: 23.9%, homosexual: 11.6%. 34% of pts. fulfilled criteria of initiating HAART already at the time of HIV-1 infection diagnosis. In 30.4% pts. 63 AIDS defining illnesses were diagnosed before HAART. We observed a very advanced HIV infection in our pts. at the time of HAART initiation (61.2% pts, with CD4 T cells count < 200/mm3; 58% pts. with HIV RNA level > 100,000 copies/mL). During HAART in 15.2% pts. 24 AIDS defining illnesses were recognized (in 7 cases it was reactivation of previous opportunistic infection, diagnosed before treatment).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our observations indicate that HIV infection in analysed group of pts. was diagnosed very late, in advanced stages of the disease. Most of our pts. were young IVDUs. Factors mentioned above had negative influence on the efficacy and tolerability of HAART.
authors.affiliation: Katedra i Klinika Chorób Zakaźnych Akademii Medycznej we Wrocławiu.
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gasiorowski
authors.forename: Brygida
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Knysz
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gładysz
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral