title: Virological and immunological outcomes to antiretroviral therapy in HIV-infected patients of an academic medical center in Chile.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Red Salud UC is an Academic health network where HIV-infected patients from the public and private health system are followed by a multidisplinary team.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine virologic and immunologic response after 144 weeks of starting first antiretroviral therapy in these patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis of adult HIV patients attended between 1992 and 2011 was performed. Demographic and clinical characteristics, antiretroviral therapies data and immunologic and virologic outcomes were collected. CD4 count and HIV viral load changes up to 144 weeks after initiation of antiretroviral therapy were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  860 patients were included in the analyses. Median age was 42 years, 93% were men. Median CD4+ count at baseline was 202 cells/mm³. The most used ART regimen was zidovudine/lamivudine plus efavirenz. First line anti-retroviral therapy was changed in 42% patients, being the most common cause, drug toxicity. At week 144, median CD4+ lymphocyte cell count was 449 cells/mm³. Ninety percent and 96% had undetectable viral load measured as < 50 copies/mL or < 400 copies/mL respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  First report of a university cohort, with CD4 and viral load follow up for 144 weeks, including Chilean patients from public and private system. After initiation of ART, an excellent immunologic and virologic response was observed in this cohort.
authors.affiliation: Escuela de Medicina, Departamento de Enfermedades Infecciosas del Adulto, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: M Elena
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Ceballos
authors.affiliation: Escuela de Medicina, Departamento de Enfermedades Infecciosas del Adulto, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Álvaro
authors.initials: Á
authors.lastname: Rojas
authors.affiliation: Escuela de Medicina, Departamento de Enfermedades Infecciosas del Adulto, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Paulina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Donato
authors.affiliation: Escuela de Medicina, Departamento de Enfermedades Infecciosas del Adulto, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Marcos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Huilcamán
authors.affiliation: Escuela de Medicina, Departamento de Enfermedades Infecciosas del Adulto, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Gonzalo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rivera
authors.affiliation: Escuela de Medicina, Departamento de Enfermedades Infecciosas del Adulto, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Tania
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: López
authors.affiliation: Escuela de Medicina, Departamento de Enfermedades Infecciosas del Adulto, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Catalina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gutiérrez
authors.affiliation: Escuela de Medicina, Departamento de Enfermedades Infecciosas del Adulto, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Labarca
authors.affiliation: Escuela de Medicina, Departamento de Enfermedades Infecciosas del Adulto, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pérez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002677:Chile; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D019562:Viral Load; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D012367:RNA, Viral