Determinants of Restoration of CD4 and CD8 Cell Counts and Their Ratio in HIV-1–Positive Individuals With Sustained Virological Suppression on Antiretroviral Therapy

Abstract

Starting ART with a CD4 cell count of ≥500 cells/mm makes reaching median reference CD4 cell counts more likely. However, median CD4:CD8 ratio trajectories remained below the median levels of HIV-negative individuals because of persisting high CD8 cell counts. To what extent these subnormal immunological responses affect specific clinical endpoints requires further investigation.