We also aim to emphasize the potential for accelerated progression of HIV-1 disease, the difficulties in interpreting the CD4 cell count when deciding on the initiation of (antiretroviral therapy) ART or when monitoring HIV-1 disease progression as well as the pathogenesis and basic management of refractory hypercalcaemia in the HIV-1 infected individual with concurrent HTLV-1/ATLL. The gene discussed is CD4; the disease is adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma.