Extensive implementation of highly active antiretroviral therapy shows great effect on survival and surrogate markers in vertically HIV-infected children.

We performed a retrospective observational study of 253 children vertically infected with human immunodeficiency virus (1994-2001) to assess the effectiveness of antiretroviral therapies (ARTs) on survival and surrogate markers at the population level. Children were divided into 3 groups according to the ART protocols used during the follow-up period: calendar period (CP) 1 (1994-1996) received combined therapy with 2 nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs); CP2 (1997-1998) received implementation of highly active ART (HAART) with 3 drugs (NRTIs, protease inhibitors, and non-NRTIs); and CP3 (1999-2001) received extensive HAART. The children in the CP3 group had statistically significant longer survival periods, lower virus load (VL), highest undetectable VL proportion, and highest CD4+ T cell counts. HAART is effective at the population level at decreasing VL, increasing CD4+ T cells, and increasing the survival in a higher percentage of HIV-infected children.