Biomarkers have been investigated as predictors of HIV disease progression, i.e. development of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) defining diagnoses or death. There are limited data on the levels of these biomarkers among HIV-infected individuals in sub Saharan Africa and on the effect of antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation on these levels. In addition, further work is needed to examine the association between such markers and various complications associated with HIV as well as mortality in sub Saharan Africa. The overall aim of this study is to develop a cohort of HIV-infected adults who are initiating ART at health facilities in Kenya and to establish a sample bank of plasma and urine samples in order to further the understanding of the levels of inflammatory biomarkers (IBM) and coagulation biomarkers (CBM) in African patients and the effect of ART initiation on these biomarkers. The study objectives are as follows:
* To recruit, establish and follow a cohort of HIV-infected individuals who are eligible for initiation of ART through 12 months
* To obtain blood and urine samples on all cohort participants at baseline, months 2, 6, and 12 for future HIV and related research
* To describe the demographic and disease characteristics of cohort participants and associations with various biomarkers
