title: Effect of early initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy on CD4 cell count and HIV-RNA viral load trends within 24 months of the onset of acute retroviral syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The effect of starting highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) early after the onset of acute retroviral syndrome (ARS) on CD4 and HIV-RNA trends was studied over a 2-year follow-up period.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four groups of HIV-infected patients stratified according to the time interval from ARS onset to HAART initiation and a control group of untreated patients were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results indicated that the earlier the start of HAART, the faster was the rate of CD4 increase and HIV-RNA decrease. However, this difference did not seem to persist at 24 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The optimal treatment strategy for HIV-infected patients needs to be explored further.
authors.affiliation: University of Lyon, Lyon 1 University, Lyon, France.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Voirin
authors.forename: J-P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Routy
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Baratin
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Trépo
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cotte
authors.forename: J-L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Touraine
authors.forename: J-M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Livrozet
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ritter
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: André
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vanhems
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012367:RNA, Viral; D013997:Time Factors; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral