Question
Should I worry about my CD4:CD8 ratio?
11 February 2019. Related: All topics, CD4 and viral load.
Hi
I’ve been undetectable for a year, after being diagnosed, but I stopped taking meds a few months ago for financial reasons. I recently started a new combination and luckily my viral load was just around 300+. My recent lab results show my CD4 count is over 1000, 35%.
However, my CD4:CD8 ratio has always been less than 1.0, varying between 0.57-0.75, with my CD8 count ranging from 1300 to 1500. What does that mean about my immune system? Is it still fighting hard?
Answer
Hi there
Thanks for the questions.
The most important results are your CD4 count and your viral load.
Luckily, your CD4 count is now really strong and your viral load is getting close to undetectable again.
Because of these results, there is no need to worry about either your CD8 count or the CD4:CD8 ratio. Luckily, a strong CD4 count seems to be the most important of these immune markers.
Your immune system is still working very well :)
Hi Celso, have you also had a viral load test? Your CD4 count is suggestive that you do not have HIV. Your absolute CD4 count is very good and this is reflected in your CD4:CD8 ratio. At 2, the ratio means you have 2 CD4 cells to every 1 CD8 cells. This would be calculated by your CD4 count being 1066 and your CD8 count being 530.
In someone with HIV, this ratio often falls below 1, as there are fewer CD4 cells to be compared against CD8 cells. This ratio could then recover after staring treatment. Treatment is used for viral load, not for CD4/CD8 recovery. Treatment suppresses viral load which allows the body to naturally recover its immune cells (CD4 and CD8).
Does the CD8 Count & percentage increase & remains High without treatment or after starting the medicine?, I mean does the treatment affective the CD8 count cell to be high to control the viral load?!
What about the Chronic HIV Infection without treatment?, same a questions about CD4/CD8 Ratio?
I am not in treatment and my CD8 Count is 530, percentage %23.9
My CD4 Count 1066, percentage %45.6
Also my Ratio of CD4/CD8 near to 2.0
My doctor want to make another test for HIV to confirm my status, my last time exposure HIV was 2.5 years
Thank you