Wolday D, Legesse D, Kebede Y, et al. - Researchers investigated a cohort comprising HIV infected persons on sustained suppressive antiretroviral therapy (ART) observed for more than a decade, to investigate CD4+ T-cell, CD8+ T-cell and CD4/CD8 ratio responses in this patient population. Participants included adult patients who initiated ART between 2001 and 2007. A retrospective analysis of trends in median CD4+ T-cells, CD8+ T-cells and CD4/CD8 ratio was conducted for 227 patients with a median duration of follow-up on ART of 12 years. From a baseline median of 138 cells, an increment to 555 cells in CD4 cell count was reported. A continuous rise in CD4 cells up until 5 years was evident, following which it plateaued up until 14 years of observation. Based on the findings, experts concluded a high relevance of ascertaining both CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells along with CD4/CD8 ratio in long-term follow-up of patients in order to evaluate immune recovery. In patients on long-term ART, monitoring ratio levels may be a better biomarker for risk of disease progression. These data also highlight that ART initiation at the early stage of HIV-1 infection is relevant.