[53 year-old patient with fever and cough]

We describe a patient with late HIV presentation, opportunistic infections and an immune reconstitution syndrome (IRIS) after starting a combination antiretroviral therapy (ART)occurring in this severely immunodeficient patient. In the beginning, a miliary tuberculosis was diagnoses, followed by a second opportunistic infection, i.e. pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia. After start of ART, further organ manifestations developed, interpreted as immune reconstitution syndrome. The decision about the optimal time point for starting ART in the presence of an opportunistic infection is essential.