Discontinuation of secondary prophylaxis for penicilliosis marneffei in AIDS patients responding to highly active antiretroviral therapy.

Abstract

The studies of the discontinuation of antifungal prophylaxis in HIV-infected patients responding to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) reported to date including the present study all involved small case numbers and short observation durations. In addition unlike the recommendations for the discontinuation of primary or secondary prophylaxis for pneumocystosis no specific cut-off value of CD4 cell count can be used as a clinical guide to discontinue secondary antifungal prophylaxis. Therefore randomized case-control studies are desperately needed to confirm those observations and to set the appropriate cut-off value of CD4 cell count for the discontinuation of secondary antifungal prophylaxis in HIV-infected patients who respond favourably to HAART. (excerpt)