To define relationships between 1) HIV load and risk of CMV disease, 2) CMV load and the risk of developing CMV disease, and 3) CMV load and HIV load. To establish threshold CMV and HIV load values in peripheral blood fractions that are associated with development of CMV end-organ disease. To define the natural history of CMV diseases in the context of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).

Establishment of threshold CMV and HIV load values associated with CMV disease would facilitate identification of HIV-infected individuals truly at risk for CMV disease in whom targeted prophylactic interventions to prevent CMV disease would be indicated. These studies would also further the understanding of the natural history of CMV disease within the context of AIDS. Natural history studies conducted prior to the advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART; i.e., 3-drug regimens that include HIV reverse transcriptase and protease inhibitors) have demonstrated that the risk for developing CMV disease increases with progression of HIV disease and with declining CD4 counts. Presently the need exists to define the natural history of CMV disease in patients with AIDS within the context of HAART.