In 1,731 AIDS-free patients with >350 CD4 cells/μl from the pre-cART era, the rate of CD4 cell decline was also not significantly associated with progression to AIDS or death (hazard ratio 0.99, 95% confidence interval 0.94–1.03, for each 10 cells/μl per year reduction in CD4 cell decline). The gene discussed is CD4; the disease is AIDS.