Defining Treatment Failure

6 Nov, 10

Defining Treatment Failure

Virologic Failure

Plasma viral load above 5000 copies/mL
Values of >5,000 copies/mL are associated with clinical progression and a decline in the CD4 cell count

Immunologic Failure

Fall of CD4 count to baseline (or below) OR
50% fall from on-treatment peak value OR
Persistent CD4 levels below 100 cells/mm³

Clinical Failure

New or recurrent WHO stage 4 condition
Condition must be differentiated from immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS)
Certain WHO clinical stage 3 conditions (e.g. pulmonary TB, severe bacterial infections), may be an indication of treatment failure

Antiretroviral therapy for HIV infection in adults and adolescents. WHO 2010 guidelines

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