Compared with late starters, late presenters (adjusted OR 1.30; 95% CI 1.02, 1.67; P=0.04) and ideal starters (adjusted OR 1.57; 95% CI 1.23, 2.02; check details P=0.0004) were both more likely to experience clinical progression at week 48 (the latter finding was mainly

attributable to the higher rate of loss to follow-up among ideal starters); differences were, however, reduced and nonsignificant at week 96. Finally, when we reanalysed our data using a threshold of <500 copies/mL to define virological suppression, we found high rates of viral suppression in all groups. At week 48, rates of virological suppression among those remaining under follow-up and on treatment were 92.7, 92.9 and 94.3% in late presenters, late starters and ideal starters, respectively. Rates of virological suppression were not significantly different among late presenters (adjusted OR 1.34; 95% CI 0.90, 1.98; P=0.15), ideal starters (adjusted OR 1.26; 95% CI 0.82, 1.94; P=0.29) and late starters in multivariable analyses. By week 96,

virological suppression rates among those remaining under follow-up and on treatment were 93.3, 96.3 and 94.9% in late presenters, ideal starters and late starters, respectively, with no significant differences among late Selleck LBH589 presenters (adjusted OR 1.49; 95% CI 0.91, 2.45; P=0.12), ideal starters (adjusted OR 1.36; 95% CI 0.76, 2.43; P=0.30) and late starters. We demonstrated that, among patients who remained under follow-up and on treatment, virological responses at 48 or 96 weeks did not differ substantially Thiamet G between late starters and late presenters; similar conclusions were reached when additionally controlling for the actual CD4 cell count and viral load at the time of HAART initiation, and in several sensitivity analyses designed to assess the robustness

of the findings to missing data and changes in the viral load assay over time. Despite these similar virological responses, late presenters did experience blunted immunological responses at both 48 and 96 weeks compared with late starters, although the difference between the two groups reduced over time. Of note, there was a smaller, although also statistically significant, numerical difference between late starters and ideal starters in terms of CD4 cell count increase at 48 weeks, which is consistent with a prior analysis of this cohort showing smaller CD4 cell count gains in patients with higher baseline CD4 cell counts [15]; there was no significant difference by week 96. The early difference in CD4 cell count response between late starters and late presenters may be secondary to increased comorbidities or use of concomitant medications in the late presenters (supported by the higher frequency of new AIDS events in this group).