SUMMARYOpportunistic diseases (OD) are the most common cause of death in AIDS patients. To access the incidence of OD and survival in advanced immunodeficiency, we included 79 patients with AIDS treated at Hospital Evandro Chagas (FIOCRUZ) from September 1997 to December 1999 with at least one CD4 count £ 100 cells/mm We found a very low incidence of OD and long survival after CD4 < 100 cells/mm 3 . Survival was significantly associated with restoration of baseline CD4 counts above 100 cells/mm 3 .

The absence of DMAC infection in colonized individuals argues in favor of a HAART protective effect against; DMAC; however, restoration of CD(4) counts did not protect patients against MAC colonization.