I know this is a recurring question with no easy answer, but please bear with me. I was recently diagnosed with HIV, and my viral load is just under 10,000. My CD4+ cells are just above 1000. I am healthy, work out regularly, take a healthy diet and since diagnosed have started taking supplements (multivitamin, multiminerals, antioxydants, B12, L-carnitine). From everything I read the general thinking seems to go back to a point where early intervention is again recommended, to keep CD4 count at normal levels and prevent any damage to the immune system. I am tempted to start medication, even though I am slightly worried about possible side effects. Is my CD4 count too high to start treatment?

Thank you for the post. There certainly are no compelling clinical data demonstrating that starting antiretroviral therapy with a CD4 cell count as high as yours will result in any benefit. That does not mean there are not benefits yet to be identified. Because of the uncertainty, ultimately the decision needs to be made based upon a detailed discussion between you and your expert provider as to the theoretical benefits of early therapy and the well defined and potential risks of such a strategy.

Best, Eric