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jmiami
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Newbie
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Reged: 12/13/06
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Posts: 8
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Very slow progress...
#225866 - 03/12/07 10:17 PM
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On 10/31/2006, I was diagnosed with AIDS while in the hospital with a bout of PCP. MY CD4 count was 21(!!!) and viral load of 650,000. Anyways I was placed on Atripla, Bactrim and Azithromycin on 11/2006. In 2/28/2007 my CD4 count was only 61 and viral load was near 500,000. Did anyone have such slow results? I am getting nervous and scared!
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spunkie
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Reged: 11/06/06
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Posts: 11
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Hi there
The increase in CD4 from 21 to 61 is good, it can take a while for it to climb back up.
Have you been at least 95% adherence with your meds?
Did your doctor run a genotype resistance test before starting Atripla?
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ScotCharles
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Legend
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Reged: 05/06/05
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Posts: 924
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Loc: Los Angeles
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Your progress is not slow but quick if you look at the numbers. Your CD4 has increased from 21 to 64, a greater than 200% increase and your viral log has decreased from 650K to 500K a 23% decrease. Both CD4 and viral load tend to change in the good direction very quickly at first and then slow down. I shouldn't be concerned unless your rate of change slows before your viral load becomes undetectable. I've had viral loads as high as 500K quite often and CD4 as low as 274 only to return to undetectable and over 400.
I've been HIV+ since '84 and AIDS since '04. I had a CD4 of 400 in 1992 and I had a viral load high of 500K in '05. My lowest CD4 was 274 in '05. I'm still here and kicking.
Do not dispair, your numbers are doing exactly what they should.
--------------------
Life is a river.
Carpe diem.
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spunkie
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Reged: 11/06/06
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Jmiami - how many weeks has it been since you started Atripla?
Normally doctors expect to see at least a 1 log (factor of 10) reduction in viral load after 4 - 8 weeks. Your viral load reduction from 650K (5.813 log) to 500K (5.699 log) shows a change of only 0.114 log which is a concern in MHO. There should be a dramatic drop in viral load within the first few weeks of starting meds (if they are working), and then followed by a slow gradual decrease after.
I would recommend checking with your doctor and getting a genotype test to sort out if there is an issue with drug resistance.
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ScotCharles
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Legend
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Reged: 05/06/05
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Posts: 924
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Loc: Los Angeles
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Spunkie may be right in that your viral load should have dropped to 100,000 or so by now. However, your CD4 was mighty low to begin with so you likely have a lot of latent infection. Not a bad idea to get a resistance panel before things go wonky. You are getting your counts checked on a monthly basis, I hope? Can't be too careful when you got so few CD4 you could invite all of them over for drinks.
Cheers, I still think you're doing fine. Can't but help to be careful.
ScotCharles
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Life is a river.
Carpe diem.
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