Decreasing incidence of CNS AIDS-defining events associated with antiretroviral therapy

The authors enrolled 1,029 patients with CD4 counts less than or equal to 2 00/mu L and no CNS AIDS-defining events (CNS-AIDS) between January 1993 and December 1998. The primary end point was the first appearance of CNS-AIDS. Three different periods and different antiretroviral regimens were conside red. During the median follow-up of 329 days, 144 patients (9.5%) developed CNS-AIDS. The independent predictors were CD4 counts and therapy. All regi mens decreased the risk of CNS-AIDS. Highly active antiretroviral therapy l ed to a 95% risk reduction in comparison with untreated patients.