Somnuek SungkanuparphSasisopin KiertiburanakulWeerawat ManosuthiWiphawee KiatatchasaiAsda VibhagoolMahidol University2018-06-212018-06-212005-03-01International Journal of STD and AIDS. Vol.16, No.3 (2005), 243-246095646242-s2.0-16344393524https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/17039In developing countries, patients often present late with advanced AIDS and a very low CD4 cell count. A retrospective cohort study was conducted in HIV-infected patients who had been initiated into highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) with CD4 cell count <50 cells/mm3. There were 159 patients of mean age 36.6 years and 60.4% had previous major opportunistic infections. Mean CD4 was 22 cells/mm3and 80% had HIV RNA>100,000 copies/mL. The majority of HAART regimens is non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor-based (81.8%). In astreated analysis, 50, 71.2, 79.7, 79.4, and 80.1% of patients achieved undetectable HIV RNA (<50 copies/mL) at 12, 24, 36, 48, and 60 weeks, respectively. The corresponding mean CD4 counts were 95,125,166, 201, and 225 cells/mm3. Twenty-two patients (13.8%) had adverse drug events and half of these had to discontinue HAART. Initiation of HAART in advanced AIDS with CD4 cell count < 50 cells/mm3is effective, safe, and well tolerated and should not be delayed.Mahidol UniversityMedicineArticleSCOPUS10.1258/0956462053420121