Presenting Plasma HIV RNA Level and Rate of CD4 T-Cell Decline

Abstract
To the Editor: In their study, Dr Rodriguez and colleagues1 challenge the long-held view that baseline plasma HIV-1 RNA level is the best predictor of the rate of CD4 cell decline among untreated HIV-infected individuals, initially put forward by Mellors et al in 1997.2 There are several methodological issues that may have contributed to this controversy.