2011 Updated HIV Treatment Guidelines...

[OneTampa]

FYI: Lengthy documents with very good information:

http://aidsinfo.nih.gov/Guidelines/GuidelineDetail.aspx?MenuItem=Guidelines&Search=Off&GuidelineID=7&ClassID=1

Excerpt below from January 2011 Adults and Adolescent Treatment Report:

CD4 T-cell Count

The Panel recognizes that changes in CD4 cell count are seldom used in decision for ART changes in a patient on a suppressive ART regimen whose CD4 count is well above the threshold for opportunistic infection risk. In such patients, the Panel recommends that the CD4 count may be monitored less frequently, for example every 6 to 12 months (instead of every 3 to 6 months), unless there are changes in the patient’s clinical status, such as new HIV-associated clinical symptoms or initiation of treatment with interferon, corticosteroids, or anti-neoplastic agents (CIII).

Viral Load Testing

The Panel recognizes that low-level positive viral load results (typically <200 copies/mL) have been commonly reported with some viral load assays. For the purpose of patient monitoring, the Panel defines virologic failure as a confirmed viral load >200 copies/mL, which eliminates most cases of viremia caused by isolated blips or assay variability.


EDITED TO ADD_ABOUT AIDSINFO LINK: http://www.aidsinfo.nih.gov/Other/about.aspx