Question
Should I worry about a CD4 drop with undetectable viral load?
27 September 2019. Related: All topics, CD4 and viral load.
Hi
My CD4 has been hanging between 92 and 120 for the last several years, with an undetectable viral load. It just dropped to 82.
I live in the US and wondered if there is anything I should be looking at?
Answer
Hi
Thanks for your question.
Although you are seeing the recent 82 result as a drop, this might just be the same sort of variability that you are describing with a range of 92 to 120.
Asking for another CD4 test now might be a good way to confirm this.
Knowing that your viral load is still undetectable is really important and helpful though. Because you are in the US, an undetectable viral load means this is likely to be less than 50 copies/mL – which means your meds are still working perfectly.
You could ask your doctor about your CD4 percentage (CD4%).
This is routinely reported at the same time as the CD4 count. If your CD4 percentage hasn’t changed, this will confirm that the differences in the CD4 count are not related to any changes in your immune system.
See this link for more info:
https://i-base.info/qa/18
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