Figure 8. Disease Progression Related to Baseline CD4 Cell Count and Status of Virologic Suppression

In this study, 1173 patients were followed on highly active antiretroviral therapy and data was analyzed according to the baseline CD4 cell count, durable virologic suppression, and evidence of disease progression. A durable virologic response was defined as having a greater number of undetectable [less than 400 copies/ml] viral loads than detectable viral loads after initiating therapy; disease progression was defined as a new AIDS-defining illness or death. This figure is based on data from Sterling TR, Chaisson RE, Keruly J, Moore RD. Improved outcomes with earlier initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy among human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients who achieve durable virologic suppression: longer follow-up of an observational cohort study. J Infect Dis. 2003;188:1659-65.

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