The Cell Most Likely To Be Attacked By Hiv

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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). When the immune system loses too many CD4 cells, it becomes weak and isunable to fight off germs. At...

Ask the Experts

HIV attacks CD8 cells?

My Drs. can't answer this and my lengthy internet searches are fruitless. I know all about how HIV attacks CD4s, but does it also infect/hijack CD8s? Thank you!...

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

Stanford University, School of Medicine

Unlikely to infect CD8 cells, unless they are dual positive CD4/CD8, of which there are a few. On the other hand, infecting CD4 cells and destroying them does affect CD8 function, in that CD4 cells are important in signaling CD8 cells to function... Read more »

Does looking at red/white cells = knowing about HIV?

Hello Doctor. I just wanted to say that I have been reading all your forums all night and I think you are amazing for helping calm all these people's worries! I myself have an extreme worry and I am about to give myself a heart attack with...

Response from Robert J. Frascino, M.D.

The Robert James Frascino AIDS Foundation

Hello Big City USA,Your HIV risk is "unprotected sex with two men" four and a half years ago. Statistically the estimated per-act risk for acquiring HIV from unprotected receptive penile-vaginal sex with a partner confirmed to be HIV... Read more »

HIV attacking central nervous system

i was diagnosed with encypholitis back in october at which time i was removed from all meds. I had bloodwork done and my t cells dropped from 910 to 527 in late December also viral from undetectable to 1600. New bloodwork done in middle of January...

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

Stanford University, School of Medicine

Not exactly sure what she might be speaking of. However, HIV exists in all tissues including the brain and spinal fluid. HIV drugs penetrate into the brain at different levels. In general when we see viral loads go down in the blood, the same... Read more »

Cytotoxic T cells and cancer in HIV patients

If cytotoxic T cells attack viruses and tumor antigens, why do HIV patients have increased cancers? ...

Response from Bruce Dezube, M.D.

Harvard Medical School

For the general reader of this forum, a word of explanation is in order. Cytotoxic T lymphocytes are a very important part of the immune system of both HIV+ and HIV- folks. As the query suggests, these cells are involved with helping individuals... Read more »

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What's it gonna be like???

Posted by Anonymous, 2 Replies

Hello everybody. I'm writing from Europe, Italy. I'm 28 and I was diagnosed with HIV just two weeks ago; I didn't expect it because I've had no symptoms so far. It was like a fist in my chest, my mind was reeling as I felt like falling from the 7th... Read more »

What's it gonna be like?

Posted by Anonymous, 2 Replies

To all those repeatedly neg but low cd4 (like me)

Posted by Anonymous

Dear Joel,

I've seen an expert at the the body talk about this, (Mark H.). What the hell is it. Is it just another name for an undectable strain of HIV? This is what he refers to people who keep testing negative on all sorts of test, but yet have... Read more »

Had A Real Attack of Tremor in the Evening

Posted by Anonymous, 3 Replies

Dear Friends,

I know you will advise me to get counseling, etc. My question is, if it is PN, or other HIV complications, would I have this strange pattern in my symptoms?

I got a severe attack of tremors at night, pulsation everywhere, but when I woke... Read more »

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