At What Stage Is Treatment Started For HIV Infection

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The Stages of HIV Disease

HIV Is a Continuum Infection Primary Infection (or Acute Infection) Seroconversion The Asymptomatic Stage Early- and Medium-Stage HIV Symptomatic Disease Late-Stage HIV Disease (AIDS) HIV Is a Continuum Most of us are used to thinking of disease in very simple terms: if you feel sick, you are sick; if you feel healthy, you are healthy. However, because HIV may begin causing subtle changes in the immune system long before an infected...

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Lipodystrophy and Treatment During Acute HIV Infection Stage

I was exposed to the HIV virus about 5 weeks ago. I'm now considering antiviral treatment. However, since I've never been on any HIV medication, I would prefer to be on the combination that has the least chance of producing lipodystrophy....

Response from Graeme Moyle, M.D.

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital

The risk of lipoatrophy on any of the meds is low (say <5%) over one year and may be especially low if you are young (<40 yo) and start with a CD4 greater than 200. Limiting use of d4T and protease inhibitors should further limit riskBest... Read more »

Am I still in the 'acute infection' stage?

I was just diagnosed late June and I just got my first lab results back and I was surprised at my numbers. My viral load is 84,000 copies and my CD4 count was 249. The last time I tested before I did so in June was back in March of 2010. I finally...

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

Stanford University, School of Medicine

Hard to say. If you were exposed 2 years ago, then these are likely what the numbers will be. Another set of numbers in a couple of months would help make that determination. However, most providers would recommend HIV treatment given where your CD4... Read more »

hiv/hcv co-infection, do I start hiv/hcv treatment?

Hi, My brother just gave me the news he is hiv+ and has hep c. he's had hiv for 8 years and has t-cell count of 380-390. He is not taking meds for anything. He was an ivdu in NY(if that helps) shouldn't he be looking into starting some...

Response from Maribel Rodriguez-Torres, M.D.

Fundacion Gatroenterologia De Diego

Yes,he should discuss this with his physician.The most important thing will be to check the status of his liver as chronic Hep,C is more agressive,and progresses more rapidly in HIV,and patients should be treated earlier and more agressively than... Read more »

9 million viral load initial infection stage - what does it really mean?

I have a 9 million viral load at initial infection stage - what does it really mean? My CD4 was then 161. 2 months later, it went up to 300. My doc in Singapore decided to check on my CD4 in 3 months time to see if there is any further increase,...

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

Stanford University, School of Medicine

That is a very high viral load, and is usually seen during acute infection. The marked reduction in CD4 count, with recovery, as the your immune system begins to gain some control, can also be seen during acute infection. Your doctor's plan is... Read more »

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How long were you poz before you started treatment

Posted by pogi12, 10 Replies

Hello,

First of all I would like to say thank you to anyone taking the time to read this and any responses would be much, much appreciated.

I was recently diagnosed HIV positive within the last year. I don't know what my T-cell counts are or my viral... Read more »

4 stages to HIV disease

Posted by Anonymous, 1 Reply

AMFAR AIDS HANDBOOK (Chapter 4, Page 53 )

There are four stages to HIV disease

1) Acute Infection Stage (500-1200 CD4s)- begins immediately after hiv enters the body and starts multiplying in infected cells. Acute infection ends about 2-6 weeks... Read more »

Dad won't start treatment

Posted by lovingdaughter, 3 Replies

Hi. My dad was recently Dx with AIDS. He and my mom (who is negative) did tell myself and my siblings. We have all been supportive and have let him know that we are always there for him. He is very depressed and was supposed to start treatment 2... Read more »

Starting Treatment??

Posted by calikid21, 1 Reply

Hi everyone, I'm new to this site, still kinda figuring everything out... anyways

I'm a 21 year old newly diagnosed HIV+ male, just had my first labs done in Sept.
My lab results were:
9/15 - CD4 277 VL ~ 9,000
10/01 - CD4 317 VL ~ 10,000
11/01 - CD4 354... Read more »

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