The Development of Anti-Retroviral Therapy in Africa (DART) trial. Comparison of routine vs clinically driven laboratory monitoring in HIV-infected African adults over 5 years on ART: Final results of the DART trial

Abstract

The following conclusions are presented: 5-year survival in 3316 participants with advanced HIV disease pre-ART was excellent (CDM 87%, LCM 90%) Loss to follow-up was very low Routine laboratory monitoring for toxicity did not impact adverse events or substitutions in first line 12-weekly CD4 monitoring had no impact on disease progression during the first 2 years on ART after 2 years, a small but significant impact on clinical disease progression favouring LCM appeared to be driven by later switch to second-line ART in CDM there may be a role for targeted, as opposed to routine, CD4 monitoring from the second year on ART