Initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) results in an increase in the number of CD4+T cells and a decrease in the number of CD8+ T cells.

<div><p>Absolute CD4+ and CD8+ T cell counts were obtained in real time on fresh whole blood samples. Lymphocytes were identified by flow cytometry based on size and granularity; T cell subsets were identified by positive expression of CD4 or CD8. The numbers of circulating A) CD4+ and B) CD8+ T cells within this HIV-1 infected patient population changed significantly from baseline by day 2 (p<0.001 and p<0.002, respectively), but did not reach levels seen in healthy controls within 48 weeks of ART treatment. C) naïve (CD45RA+ CCR7+) and D) central memory (CM, CD45RA-CCR7+) CD4+ T cell numbers increased significantly by day 2 (p<0.001) and day 7 (p=0.001) respectively. Symbols used in the figure:</p> <p>N = Normal controls (in blue).</p> <p>0 = Baseline.</p> <p>D = Day (The two tick-marks between “0” and “D14” are Day 2 and Day 7).</p> <p>W = Week.</p> <p>* = Change from baseline significantly different from 0 (Wilcoxon signed rank p ≤0.05) .</p> <p>x = Significant difference from the normal controls (Wilcoxon rank sum p ≤0.05).</p> <p>- Horizontal bars represent 25^th (Q1), 50^th (Median), and 75^th percentiles.</p> <p>… Dotted line (in red) connects the medians over time.</p>