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RESPONSE ON THE WAY TO FIRST-LINE ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY WITHIN HIV PATIENTS

Dr. Zainub Jaleel, Dr. Momna Jaleel, Dr. Rafia Kamran

Objective: This study was focused to evaluate the immune recovery amongst patients infected with HIV on the antiretroviral therapy by a one-year follow-up. Methodology: This study was patients’ retrospective analysis on Antiretroviral therapy discussed by different Voluntary Testing and Counselling centres. The study held at Mayo Hospital, Lahore from October 2017 to November 2018. The patients above 18 years of age, with CD4 count less than 350 cells/mm3 and who were WHO clinical stage III /IV were considered eligible for ART and were enrolled in the study. Results: A number of 800 patients comprising over 73.45% were males and they had no travel history (60%). The majority of patients (58.90%) were having stage IV and 23.65% followed by stage III. More than half the strength of patients (411/800) had described heterosexual contact for a risk factor for infection of HIV. A significant increase was observed within the CD4 cell count at the follow-up in comparison with baseline (183.30 ± 24.60 Vs. 308.80 ± 36.25). In the same way, the viral load amongst the patients on Antiretroviral therapy significantly decreases as a result of therapy at six months. Conclusion: In the end, it was concluded that in the consequences of Antiretroviral therapy CD4 cell count rises and viral load declines significantly. So, long term combined Antiretroviral therapy can possibly restore and improve the immune status within HIV infected patients. Keywords: Antiretroviral Therapy, ART, CD4, HIV, Viral Load.

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