Defining Treatment Failure
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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