Optimal timing for initiation of antiretroviral therapy: a prospective study on treatment naive HIV patients

Method 150 treatment naïve adults PLHIV with CD4 count between 250 -500/mm in WHO clinical stage 1 or 2 were included in the study and enrolled into 2 groups at 2:1 ratio and followed for 1 year. Group A with CD4 count between 250-350/mm & Group B with CD4 count between 350-500/mm. At the end of study each group was evaluated for number of opportunistic infection, ART conversion, conversion to stage III and IV, lost to follow up (LFU) and death. Statistical analysis was done by SPSS 16.0 version. Data were expressed as mean (±SD) for continuous variable and percentage for categorical variable. An independent sample t-test was used to detect differences in clinical and laboratory results.