CD4+ T cell depletion in an untreated HIV type 1-infected human leukocyte antigen-B*5801-positive patient with an undetectable viral load.

We report a case of a patient infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) for 20 years who has experienced CD4(+) T cell depletion in spite of maintaining undetectable viral loads. Our data suggest that immune activation can cause CD4(+) T cell depletion even when HIV-1 replication appears to be controlled by host factors.