Viral Load Early Stage Progression

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AIDS Dementia Complex

Introduction Possible Symptoms of Early Stage ADC Possible Symptoms of Middle Stage ADC Possible Symptoms of Late Stage ADC What Is ADC? The Symptoms of ADC How Does HIV Cause ADC? Incidence Diagnosing ADC What If I Think I Have ADC? Treating ADC Treating the Symptoms of ADC What If Someone I Care For Has Symptoms or Was Diagnosed With ADC? Conclusion Introduction Dementia is a brain disorder that affects a person's ability to...

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Low Viral Load, but early Infection

I am 35 and I have a viral load of between 8,000 and 16,000. My CD4 is 1000. I was infected about three months ago. I've heard that there is a theoretical benefit of starting treatment during early infection. Have I missed that window of...

Response from Benjamin Young, M.D., Ph.D.

Rocky Mountain CARES

Yours is an interesting situation-- I'd normally expect that someone with acute or recent HIV infection to have avery high viral load.Indeed, one of the goals of early treatment is to cause the viral setpoint (the viral load during chronic... Read more »

Undetectable Viral Load Infection and Superinfection (FINDINGS SUGGEST HIV CAN BE TRANSMITTED FROM MSM WITH UNDETECTABLE VIRAL LOAD 2009) (SUPERINFECTION, 2009)

Thanks for your comments and information about the possibility that people with undetectable viral might be able to infect HIV negative people and contribute to HIV superinfection, but is there any research revealing the actual numbers of such...

Response from Robert J. Frascino, M.D.

The Robert James Frascino AIDS Foundation

Hi,No, we do not have reliable information as to how often this phenomenon occurs. As you can probably imagine it is quite challenging to conclusively prove that a particular strain of HIV was transmitted to an already infected individual. This... Read more »

What's the Rate of Progression with a high viral load?

I am a 56 year old WM and I recently tested positive. I believe I've been infected for 5 months. My CD4 count is 841 and viral load is 214,000. I understand that most HIV experts recommend starting treatment when the CD4 count nears 350,...

Response from Benjamin Young, M.D., Ph.D.

Rocky Mountain CARES

Thanks for your post.I tend to use the CD4 count as the primary measure of when to start my asymptomatic patients on medications. Some doctors will use high viral loads (>100K) as a sole determinate of starting, but I'll use the high viral... Read more »

CD4 Cells Decline While Viral Load Nears Undetectable

Thank you for taking the time to participate in this forum and for taking my questions.I am a long time survivor. Ive known that Ive been positive since the early 80s when the first HIV tests were available. Ive progressed very slowly over the years...

Response from Keith Henry, M.D.

University of Minnesota, School of Medicine

Treatment of HIV with effective antiretroviral predictably results in a significant drop in the HIV level (viral load). Recovery of CD4 cells is dependent on both a reduction in the rate of destruction of CD4 cells by HIV AND the innate and highly... Read more »

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The Failure of Viral Load Tests

Posted by Anonymous, 2 Replies

The Failure of Viral Load Tests
JAMA Study Shakes AIDS Science, Angers HIV Advocates

A nationwide team of orthodox AIDS researchers led by doctors Benigno Rodriguez and Michael Lederman of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland are disputing the... Read more »

hiv viral load

Posted by Anonymous, 1 Reply

and Perhaps a Lifesaver?

By Paul Galatowitsch, Antonio Urbina and Timothy Law Snyder

Paul Galatowitsch is a health care consultant. Antonio Urbina is the director of clinical HIV and AIDS education at St. Vincent's Hospital. Timothy Law Snyder is a... Read more »

Does early treatment reduce viral set point?

Posted by Anonymous

If you test positive early enough, the doc offers you to go on HAART treatment. The idea is to use the drugs to get a lower viral set point, and maybe you can go off the meds after awhile. Has anyone got any solid information on this? Does it work?... Read more »

Viral load, MOS-HIV, are you tracking?

Posted by annasearch, 2 Replies

Hi all -

I was wondering if I can get your take on something.

I'm a researcher learning about HIV and how to help people better manage HIV and AIDS. I was wondering, do people in the community track data? Viral load, CD4 count etc. Does anyone know... Read more »

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