TABLE 7.

Medical reasons to delay antiretroviral therapy initiation.

Reason	Action
Diagnosis of CM	Defer ART for 4–6 weeks after start of antifungal treatment.
Diagnosis of TBM or tuberculoma	Defer ART until 4–8 weeks after start of TB treatment.
Diagnosis of TB at non-neurological site	Defer ART up to 2 weeks after start of TB treatment if CD4+ ≤ 50 cells/µL and up to 8 weeks if CD4+ > 50 cells/µL.
Headache	Investigate for meningitis before starting ART.
TB symptoms (cough, night sweats, fever and recent weight loss)	Investigate for TB before starting ART.
Significantly abnormal LFTs (ALT > 200 U/L or jaundice)	Investigate and address the cause before starting ART, including other drugs causing DILI.

ART, antiretroviral therapy; ALT, alanine transaminase; CM, cryptococcal meningitis; DILI, drug-induced liver injury; LFTs, liver function tests; TB, tuberculosis; TBM, tuberculosis meningitis.