Long-term non-progression and risk factors for disease progression among children living with HIV in Botswana and Uganda: a retrospective cohort study

Africa remains the global epicenter of the HIV epidemic; more than 70% of all people living with HIV/AIDS are in Africa. In 2021, UNAIDS estimates indicated that 150,000 new HIV infections and 99,000 deaths occurred among African children [1]. Before the initiative of universal antiretroviral therapy (ART), it was widely noted that some children would remain AIDS-free for more than ten years and could maintain normal-for-age CD4+ T-cell counts [2] – so-called long-term nonprogressors (LTNP). Children capable of controlling HIV infection present the opportunity for unique insights into the natural host immune responses, which could be essential for the development of novel therapeutics and vaccines [3].

Source: International Journal of Infectious Diseases - November 27, 2023 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Samuel Kyobe, Grace Kisitu, Savannah Mwesigwa, John Farirai, Eric Katagirya, Gaone Retshabile, Lesedi Williams, Angela Mirembe, Lesego Ketumile, Misaki Wayengera, John Mukisa, Gaseene Sebetso, Thabo Diphoko, Marion Amujal, Edgar Kigozi, Fred Katabazi, Ron Source Type: research