The Body: The Complete HIV/AIDS Resource
Sign up for free e-mail updates!The Body en Espanol
Please Note: Due to volume considerations, not all questions can be answered. Questions most likely to be answered will be those of general interest to a broad group of visitors to this forum. Questions pertaining to a specific case; requests for diagnosis, medical advice, or second opinion; or requests for opinions about untested alternative therapies will generally not be answered.

Ask the Experts about Opportunistic Infections

 

AIDS PROGNOSIS
May 3, 2000

Two years ago a relative progressed to AIDS. He has a viral load of 8,000 and CD4 of 87. I had read at one time that once you had progressed to AIDS, the life expectancy was 3-5 years after diagnosis. Is that still true or has the prognosis changed with the new medications? The medication he is now on had lowered his VL to undetectable and upped the CD4 count, but now the VL is 8,000. We would like to know what his life expectancy would be. Thank You!

Response from Dr. Feinberg

No one really knows how long patients treated with the new drugs will live because they've only been available for 4-5 years. A viral load of 8,000 is pretty modest, and should be able to be suppressed to undetectable again with a change of medicines as long as your relative is taking them the way he/she is supposed to. Even if his/her viral load remains detectable, the medicines appear to offer longer-term protection from end-stage complications than people originally thought possible. So I'd be optimistic and try to help your relative stick to his/her medicines.



Terms of Use
Please remember that this forum is designed for educational purposes only, and experts are not engaged through this forum in rendering legal or medical advice or professional services. Experts appearing on this page are independent and are solely responsible for editing and fact-checking their material. Neither The Body nor any sponsor is the publisher or speaker of posted visitors' questions or the experts' material.

Questions and messages posted to this forum are not statements of advice, opinion, or information of The Body, Body Health Resources Corporation or any sponsor of this forum. While neither The Body nor Body Health Resources Corporation regularly reviews posted content, we reserve the right to delete, move, or edit postings if we deem it appropriate under the circumstances. Visitors submitting questions remain solely responsible for the content of their messages.

Information provided by experts is general only and should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or a disease, or relied upon as legal or other professional advice. This information is not a substitute for professional advice or care. If you have or suspect you may have a health or legal problem, you should consult your own health care provider or your attorney.

Copyright notice.