Dear Experts, I have one copy of the Delta 32 mutation. For 5 years I have not needed any HIV meds. According to the newer guidelines with my CD4s dropping just below 500 I have complied with my DR's request and have started taking Complera. My CD4s shot up from 420 to 576. Me Viral load dropped from 120K to less than 50 copies. I'm thrilled. Truth be told - I only take 1/2 a Complera a day since day one and I am doing fantastic. I did confess to my DR the truth and was advised this was not the recommendation but I on my own accord insisted on continuing this way and only take half the complera but agreed should anything change that I would up the dose to a full pill. I am curious about people who only have one copy of the Delta 32 and if they really need a full pill. I write you to basically get it off my chest and to bring this subject up since I believe there IS something to my success and people like me may not need to be treated in the same way as someone who doesn't have a copy of the Delta 32 gene. I'm showing amazing success and would like to hear your opinions on this matter.

I think people like me need to be studied more and perhaps treated differently.

I have no plans to change and I am thrilled I've had such success.

I truly believe this area of HIV has not been studied enough in regard to people like me.

I could have lied to my DR but she was thrilled I told her the truth and we are carefully monitoring my progress.

Any opinion is greatly appreciated I do believe there are many people like me out there.

I am also Hep C positive and I autoresolved this. Though I do have the virus in me I am not currrently suffering it's effects. I do plan to consider a study on eliminating that as well.

I am happy to hear that your HIV viral load has dropped to this extent. The issue is will it stay that way given your medication dosing. There is a high risk of the virus rebounding given the suboptimal amount of medication you are taking and in doing so become resistant to medication sin Complera.

I am also perplexed why you believe taking half is better. What if the drug had been made with 50 mg of rilpivirine instead of the 25 mg it now contains? Would you have taken a half or a quarter? It seems arbitrary to chose a dose that is simply half of what is recommended.

Complera or all meds to treat HIV probably has the lowest does necessary to contain the replication of the virus and is very well tolerated.

Your delta 32 mutation is unlikely playing a major role here. You had plenty of virus plus a dropping CD4. There is not much evidence of protection from progression of HIV in your case.

My recommendation is to take the medication as directed and advised. It is a very safe and effective drug. It is simple to take and has relatively low levels of medication already.

DW