Discontinuation of Primary and Secondary Prophylaxis for Opportunistic Infections in HIV-infected Patients Who Had CD4+ Cell Count <200 Cells/mm3 But Undetectable Plasma HIV-1 RNA

Currently, combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) has become the standard of care in the treatment of HIV infection in many parts of the world including Thailand. The benefits of cART represented by an increment of CD4 cell count and a suppression of HIV viral load have been reported worldwide. The National Institute of Health (NIH), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the HIV Medicine Association of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (HIVMA/IDSA) recommended discontinuing primary and secondary prophylaxis for prevention of opportunistic infections (OIs) in HIV-infected adults and adolescents receiving cART, when the CD4 cell count increase to a certain level for a certain period of time. For instances, Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PCP) prophylaxis can be discontinued when patients receiving HAART and CD4 ≥ 200 cells/mm3 for at least 3 months (for primary prophylaxis) or at least 6 months (for secondary prophylaxis), prophylaxis for Cryptococcal meningitis, disseminated penicilliosis, cerebral toxoplasmosis, and disseminated mycobacterium avium complex can be discontinued when patients receiving HAART and CD4 ≥ 100 cells/mm3 for at least 6 months. Our practices follow this guideline. However, recently there are new data showing that there were no cases developed PCP after primary or secondary prophylaxis discontinuation even if CD4 cell count < 200 cells/mm3. Discontinuation of secondary prophylaxis resulted in reduction in pill burdens that may improve HAART adherence, decrease drug-drug interactions, and also prevent drug adverse events that may happen.