Question
Hello, I am curious about one issue with my labs: I have been undetectable for several years, yet my CD4 count has been falling. It would seem logical that if my CD4 count lowers down, then my Viral Load should start to rise up, shouldn't it? Isn't automatic, that if your CD4 count diminishes, at the same time the Viral Load should go up? Can a HIV+ person be undetectable yet have CD4 count below 300 or 200 and keep diminishing while keeping Viral Load undetectable? Thank you for your kind answer.
Answer
Yes, a person can remain undetectable and experience a falling CD4 count/percent over time, while taking HIV meds. Unfortunately, this is a real issue that occurs in some people, and in most cases we don't have a good explanation for it. Changing or adding HIV meds doesn't usually work. It would be important to know if your other white blood cell (WBC) counts are also decreased, or if any other medications or medical conditions could be present to account for the CD4 count drop.