Case 1: Indications for Initiating Antiretroviral Therapy

Question | Discussion | References | CME Credit

You answered:

	Antiretroviral therapy should not be offered to an asymptomatic patient with a CD4 cell count between 200-350 cells/mm3, unless their HIV RNA level is greater than 100,000 copies/ml.

This answer is incorrect. The January 2008 DHHS antiretroviral therapy guidelines recommend initiating antiretroviral therapy for patients who have a CD4 count between 200-350 cells/mm3, regardless of their HIV RNA level and regardless of clinical symptoms. The guidelines acknowledge the data that support initiating therapy for persons with a CD4 count between 200 to 350 cells/mm3 are not as strong as the data for persons with a CD4 count less than 200 cells/mm3.

Choose another answer:

	Antiretroviral therapy is recommended for patients who are co-infected with hepatitis B virus when treatment for hepatitis B virus is indicated, regardless of the patient's CD4 cell count.
	Antiretroviral therapy is recommended for patients who have a CD4 count less than 200 cells/mm3, but only if they have an AIDS-defining clinical illness.
	Antiretroviral therapy is recommended for patients who have an AIDS-defining clinical illness, but only if their CD4 count is less than 350 cells/mm3.

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