Initiating antiretroviral therapy can briefly boost the chances of developing, having a relapse, or experiencing a flare-up of an opportunistic infection through an unusual condition called immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome. U.K. researchers reported in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases that HIVers most at risk for IRIS are those starting treatment with very low CD4-cell percentages.
CD4s when starting therapy: lower than 10%; Increased risk of IRIS: three times.
CD4s when starting therapy: 10% to 15%; Increased risk of IRIS: two and a half times.
CD4s when starting therapy: greater than 15%; Increased risk of IRIS: zero.
