The course of HIV infection is therefore strongly affected by cytokines and coinfection with other organisms (CMV EB, HSV, HBV); immune system activation may accelerate disease course.
Na potek okužbe močno vplivajo tudi okužbe z drugimi mikrobi (citomegalovirus, Epstein-Barrov virus, Herpes Simplex virus, virus hepatitisa B); sleherna aktivacija imunskih celic namreč pospeši napredovanje okužbe s HIV.