The prognostic value of CD4 cell count and percentage, and plasma viral load was assessed in a large
individual patient meta-analysis (HPPMCS), which incorporated clinical and laboratory data from 17
pediatric studies and included 3,941 HIV-infected children receiving either no therapy or only zidovudine
monotherapy.4 The analysis looked at the short-term (12-month) risk of developing AIDS or dying based on a
child’s age and selected values of CD4 cell count or percentage and plasma viral load at baseline (see Figures
A and B and Table A in Appendix C: Supplemental Information). In a separate analysis of this dataset,
predictive value of CD4 cell count for risk of death or AIDS/death in HIV-infected children aged 5 years or
older was similar to that observed in young adults, with an increase in the risk of mortality when CD4 cell
count fell below 350 cells/mm3 (see Figure C and Table B in Appendix C: Supplemental Information).3