One of the major reasons given for initiating early treatment is the fear that the immune system gradually loses its `memory' once the CD4 count falls below 300-350. Some researchers have argued that even if the CD4 count rises on anti-retroviral therapy, it will still be difficult for the immune system to recover its `memory'. This may mean that people will always be at risk of some opportunistic infections, even when their CD4 counts are very high.
However, other researchers have questioned this view. In a fascinating review published recently by the Journal of the American Medical Association's on-line HIV/AIDS Information Centre, Dennis Blakeslee looks at the arguments raging amongst scientists about the immune system's ability to rebuild itself after suppression of viral load.
Read the article at:
http://www.ama-assn.org/special/hiv/newsline/briefing/holes.htm