A Brief Chronicle of CD4 as a Biomarker for HIV/AIDS: A Tribute to the Memory of John L. Fahey.
Abstract
Foundational cellular immunology research of the 1960s and 1970s, together with the
advent of monoclonal antibodies and flow cytometry, provided the knowledge base and
the technological capability that enabled the elucidation of the role of CD4 T cells
in HIV infection. Research identifying the sources and magnitude of variation in CD4
measurements, standardized reagents and protocols, and the development of clinical
flow cytometers all contributed to the feasibility of widespread CD4 testing. Cohort
studies and clinical trials provided the context for establishing the utility of CD4
for prognosis in HIV-infected persons, initial assessment of in vivo antiretroviral
drug activity, and as a surrogate marker for clinical outcome in antiretroviral therapeutic
trials. Even with sensitive HIV viral load measurement, CD4 cell counting is still
utilized in determining antiretroviral therapy eligibility and time to initiate therapy.
New point of care technologies are helping both to lower the cost of CD4 testing and
enable its use in HIV test and treat programs around the world.
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https://hdl.handle.net/10161/12059Published Version (Please cite this version)
10.1615/ForumImmunDisTher.2016014169Publication Info
Kagan, Jonathan M; Sanchez, Ana M; Landay, Alan; & Denny, Thomas N (n.d.). A Brief Chronicle of CD4 as a Biomarker for HIV/AIDS: A Tribute to the Memory of John
L. Fahey. For Immunopathol Dis Therap, 6(1-2). pp. 55-64. 10.1615/ForumImmunDisTher.2016014169. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10161/12059.This is constructed from limited available data and may be imprecise. To cite this
article, please review & use the official citation provided by the journal.
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Show full item recordScholars@Duke
Thomas Norton Denny
Professor in Medicine
Thomas N. Denny, MSc, M.Phil, is the Chief Operating Officer of the Duke Human Vaccine
Institute (DHVI), Associate Dean for Duke Research and Discovery @RTP, and a Professor
of Medicine in the Department of Medicine at Duke University Medical Center. He is
also an Affiliate Member of the Duke Global Health Institute. Previously, he served
on the Health Sector Advisory Council of the Duke University Fuquay School of Business.
Prior to joining Duke, he was an Associate Professor of Pathology, Labo

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