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

To assess the effect of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on cytomegalovirus (CMV) antigenaemia in AIDS patients, 70 patients with CD4+ cell counts < or = 50/mm3 and positive anti-(CMV) immunoglobulin G (IgG) were tested at 15-30 day intervals for CMV antigenaemia. We selected those patients who had been followed up for more than 3 months. Three patient profiles were defined: A, followed up before the introduction of HAART; 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 cells/mm3, 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 was found to be associated with negativity of CMV antigenaemia.