Question

Does a woman’s CD4 count drop when she’s pregnant?

26 October 2018. Related: All topics, CD4 and viral load, Pregnancy.

I’m 38 weeks pregnant. My CD4 count has gone from 870 to 450, is this due to the pregnancy?

Answer

Answer: Lisa Thorley

Thanks for getting in touch.

When a woman is pregnant it is possible for a CD4 count to drop as the following explains: https://i-base.info/guides/pregnancy/pregnancy-and-hiv

However the drop is usually a drop of around 50. To know for sure if there is an issue with your CD4 count, you’ll need to have a viral load test. If your viral load test is OK then the CD4 drop could be due to the pregnancy or a normal fluctuation. If there is an issue with your viral load then you may need to change treatment.

Please consult a doctor about the drop.