Are You Able To Have A Low Cd4 Count But Still Have A Low Viral Load

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Understanding CD4 Cells and CD4 Cell Tests

The Basics CD4 Count and HIV CD4 Count and HIV Treatment CD4 Cell Test The Bottom Line The Basics Your immune system protects your body by fighting germs and infections.White blood cells are an important part of your immune system. HIV infects and destroys a type of white blood cell called aCD4 cell (sometimes called a T-cell). As the immune system loses CD4 cells, it becomes weaker and is less able tofight off germs. When it...

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Very low viral load AND very low CD4 count?

I have been taking medications for about 1 year now. Initially I had only my CD4count tested which was 300, then in 1month dropped to 75. I immediately started taking various "preventative" meds along with anti-viral medications. I have...

Response from Cal Cohen, M.D., M.S.

Harvard Medical School

Unfortunately, it's hard to predict what will happen when you start antiretroviral therapy if you start out with a fairly low CD4 count. Some people have truly impressive rises, while other barely budge despite a great viral load reduction.... Read more »

Low Cd 4 count (CD4 COUNTS NOT INCREASING DESPITE UNDETECTABLE VIRAL LOAD, 2009)

6/28/07 I tested hiv positive. At the time viral load was 145000 and cd4 was 50. I was put on atripla and one month later I was undectable and cd4 was 255. Its been two years now of being undectable and the cd4 is not going up. The range over the...

Response from Robert J. Frascino, M.D.

The Robert James Frascino AIDS Foundation

Hello,Dr. Henry already addressed your question regarding lack of immune reconstitution despite driving HIV plasma viral load to undetectable levels for a considerable period of time. I'll reprint his response below. I completely agree with his... Read more »

Low cd4 count and viral load

I was diagnosed a few weeks ago, my viral load is 4006 and my cd4 count is 139? i am currently taking Bactrim. I am schedule to see a doctor in a couple of weeks. I do not show any signs or symptoms. How worried should I be of catching something?...

Response from Mark Holodniy, M.D., F.A.C.P., C.I.C.

Stanford University, School of Medicine

That is a very low CD4 count and indicates an AIDS diagnosis, which puts you at risk for developing serious opportunistic infections. Hence the reason you have been put on bactrim. In general, good hand washing and generally avoiding ill people are... Read more »

Low CD4, Low Viral Load

I recently had to start meds, but I was a little confused on my lab results. I have always heard that as HIV progresses your CD4 goes down while the viral load goes up. However, I have had the problem of my CD4 decreasing, while my viral load has...

Response from Mark Holodniy, M.D., F.A.C.P., C.I.C.

Stanford University, School of Medicine

Although you had a low level of viral load (and therefore replication) it appears that this virus was able to significantly destroy your CD4 cells. It is not always the case that your viral load has to be really high in order for this to occur.... Read more »

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MAC. & low cd-4

Posted by danni, 3 Replies

i am terrified, i just learned that i have mac. my viral load is 87,000, my cd-4; only 14. my doc. did start meds for me, but i can't get past the fear that it's too late. with my blood counts, is mac, a sure death sentence? i appreciate any... Read more »

Low CD4 Counts - What Now?

Posted by amandajeanbrown, 7 Replies

My CD4 count has dropped to about 467. My VL is 2210 (no worries). What are some things that I can do to bring my CD4 count back up to 800-1,000? Suggestions are much appreciated. Does diet affect this, sleep, etc. Read more »

CD4, 320 , Viral load 26000, what to do??????

Posted by david73, 8 Replies

Hi ,I'm a 36 yr old ,new to this site and new to this world of hiv.
I have a Dr . that specializes in hiv, I was diagnosed 5 mos ago.and my last blood test was done last week and results are in today ...... cd4 320, viral load 26000. this is the 4... Read more »

Unusual case. Ongoing Low CD4 - HIV possible?

Posted by Tryin2BRational, 4 Replies

I wrote awhile back outlining a one-time risky exposure in March 2006(unprotected vaginal sex) with a female of unknown status. I contacted her and she told me she did not have HIV, but I doubted her veracity (I had two consectutive rounds of... Read more »

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