Question

Is a cure for HIV coming? Can yogurt affect CD4 counts?

17 September 2010. Related: All topics, CD4 and viral load, Cure, Starting treatment, Supplements and herbs.

Is there now real hope that there will be a cure for HIV? There seems to be some really good research going on I have just read a article where Dr Sékaly who is a well respected Dr in the field of HIV says there will be a cure in 10 years.

Also, I have read about 2 cancer drugs and there is another cancer drug called zolinza and of course the Israeli scientists that have cured HIV in small cultures and then I have read that HIV has been cured in a mouse model so may be soon HIV will be a thing of the past.

I have another question about my CD4 count, I had some bloods done about a month and a half ago my CD4 count was 321. Just after that I started to take a muller pre-biotic and combined pro-biotic yogurt. Then just over a week later I came down with Iritis. I thought my HIV treatment was failing as there was a little spike in my viral load from below 20 to 38. When I went back to the hospital to see the cholesterol specialist doctor I insisted on having my bloods taken again that was 2 weeks ago.

My CD4 count had risen from 321 to 454 in a month where for nearly a year it has always been around 300 or so I think that the reason I had the iritis was that it was IRIS and that the sudden leap in my CD4 count was due to the muller drinks. I have had iritis in the past when my CD4 count was very low at 93. Could this huge leap of more than 25% increase a month be due to the muller drinks? It seems to be the case.

I know that a persons CD4 count can fluctuate but surely not by that much? Also when I first found out in may last year that my CD4 count was 93 I was taking those muller drinks and within 2 months I had a CD4 count of 233 but for some reason I stopped taking the drinks. I guess that they were no longer on offer at Sainsburys.

Answer

Answer: Charlotte Walker

Thank you for your question.

Unfortunately a cure for HIV remains quite a way off. This article which you refer to does refer to some exciting research that is happening in the US at the moment. It relies on the theory that it would be possible to reach all HIV in the CD4 cells which are resting (often known as the reservoir). However, the danger is that it would only take 1 cell to remain for the HIV to come back. To ensure that every single HIV particle is eliminated is proving very tricky.

The article you refer to is written very cleverly to make it appear as if the Dr Sekaly is saying that in 10 years time there will be a cure. However, this is not explicitly mentioned. It is important when browsing all internet websites and media articles to try to read between the lines. For example, I have not ever heard of Israeli’s who have cured HIV. As yet there is no cure for HIV. That does not mean we should give up hope as there is a lot of on going research. For example, the two cancer drugs you refer to I answered a similar question on recently which can be found here.

Your CD4 counts and iritis are not caused by immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS). IRIS usually occurs only when you first start taking treatments and then mainly in when the starting CD4 count is very low (inder 100). It would not be IRIS when your CD4 count is 300. It is possible that you just got the iritis.

CD4 fluctuations occur for everyone. They are always higher or lower because of the type of test. Changes of 20-30% are not considered real unless they are confirmed as part of a trend. If your count has gone up it is more likely to be the slower response that your immune system takes to repair after starting treatment. No yogurts directly affect your CD4 count in this way. Supplements can help to maintain a healthy body which in turn helps strengthen the immune system. For more information on supplements which may help with a healthy lifestyle please follow this link.