Effect of highly active antiretroviral therapy on cytomegalovirus antigenaemia in AIDS patients

To assess the effect of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on cyt omegalovirus (CMV) antigenaemia in AIDS patients, 70 patients with CD4+ cel l counts less than or equal to 50/mm(3) and positive anti-(CMV) immunoglobu lin G (IgG) were tested at 15-30 day intervals for CMV antigenaemia. We sel ected those patients who had been followed up for more than 3 months. Three patient profiles were defined: A, followed up before the introduction of H AART; B, followed up before and after the use of HAART; and C, followed up after the use of HAART. Thirty-nine patients were included, 12 in group A, 17 in group B, and 10 in group C. Group A patients presented a lower median CD4+ cell count compared with groups B and C patients (9, 122 and 127 cell s/mm(3) respectively), with the increase in the last 2 groups being related to the use of HAART (P<0.001). A lower proportion of positive antigenaemia was observed in group B after the introduction of HAART compared with the time before HAART (P=0.02). HAART caused an immunological improvement and w as found to be associated with negativity of CMV antigenaemia.