We describe the frequency of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) events and estimate (survival analysis) the time to first‐line discontinuation for any reason and to virological suppression (HIV‐1 RNA VL <50 copies/mL) in a multicentre cohort of advanced naïve (AIDS‐presenters or late‐presenters with CD4 < 200/μL) HIV‐1 infected patients starting ART. The gene discussed is CD4; the disease is AIDS.