Oral candidiasis, oral hairy leukoplakia, recurrent varicella zoster and constitutional symptoms predict HIV progression. Low CD4 cell counts, rapidly falling CD4
percentage (>7% decrease/year), are included in the laboratory tests projecting progression. Viral phenotype, although not generally available, is also predictive of progression.
The recent availability
of viral load as a surrogate marker for progression of HIV disease has had enormous impact on clinical management. Clinicians strive to get and maintain an undetectable or very low viral load in each HIV
infected individual. No single marker used alone is fully predictive of disease progression.
The understanding, management and clinical course of this disease has altered greatly in the last several years,
with improved survival and quality of life.
