Question
My CD4 count didn't go above 150, how long have I got to live?
12 April 2011. Related: All topics, CD4 and viral load, Living with HIV long-term.
How long do I have, honestly?
I have been diagnosed positive for just over 3.5yrs presenting at 35yrs of age with shingles and a CD4 count less than 05. My health has remained fairly stable since diagnosis, apart from 2 episodes of abnormal cell growth (Intraepelithial neoplasia PIN/AIN), but I have been unable to increase my CD4 count over 150 and the CD4 % remains low between 15-19% with HAART therapy.
I am just wondering, truthfully how long a person can be expected to live with constantly low immunity?
Everyone keeps saying to me ‘well, I could get run over by a bus tomorrow’ but this doesn’t help my situation, nor can this statement be compared to living with a long term condition.
Thanks in advance.
Answer
Thank you for your question.
Please do not worry, your CD4 count has increased considerably since your diagnosis. This is something to be pleased about. Having a CD4 count below 200 can mean you are more at risk of opportunistic infections. However, it is important to remember that everyone’s system is slightly different. Some people get sick when they have high CD4 counts whilst others have CD4 counts of below 100 and are feeling very healthy. Please read this section of our guidebook which focuses on what it means to have different CD4 counts.
Whilst you may be at slightly higher risk of opportunistic infections, if you lead a healthy lifestyle – don’t smoke, drink sensibly, sleep well, don’t get too stressed, eat healthily, get regular exercise etc then you could expect a near normal life expectancy and a good quality of life. Please read this similar question including the referenced article about life expectancy to learn more.
The rate at which CD4 counts increase is usually related to how low they got before treatment was started. As your CD4 count was so low to begin with it could take you much longer to see more of an increase in your CD4 count. For more information please read this article. As I said, this is not something to worry about. Once you are on treatment as long as your viral load remains undetectable then that is the most important thing to focus on.
My mother has a CD4 count of 179. We have started using the meds as soon as we got to know about the CD4 count. I know everyone’s body is different, but an average about how much would the CD4 count be after 1 month of meds?
Thanks
Hi Vincent,
Are you taking HIV treatment (ART)? If you are, and your viral load is undetectable then your CD4 count should recover. If you are not taking ART it’s a good idea to talk to the doctor about it. Modern ART is safe and effective and much easier to take than the early meds.
Hi my cd4 at the moment is 150, tell me if its ok or what should I supposed to do?
Hi John,
Its common to be concerned when your CD4 isn’t as you’d like it to be. However, your doctors are right, as long as your viral load is working your HIV is under control. Though there’s been a drop, its very possible that this is just a blip. This is because CD4’s can and do fluctuate as the following explains:
http://i-base.info/qa/424
I have been diagnosed on April 2015, I had no idea until I had a mark on my neck which was KP..I was treated with radiation and it went into remission three months later and declared free of it. When I started meds I had a c4 of 169.I am on ARTs…Tivicay, and duratanuvir and emtricibine combo…My Cd4 was 129 in September , now I just had blood work and it is 95, and I thought it was supposed to rise..this is very scary.I feel fine and exercise, drink moderately, and recently quit smoking, though I never did smoke more than five a day…I go to theVA and the doctors are very good and don’t seem to be alarmed as long as I am undetectable which I am..but I lead an active life and am afraid of somehow getting something that I can’t fight with a low C4…
When I was detected positive my CD4 was only 39 and now after exactly a year my CD4 count is 415 I am very happy.
I am taking Genvoya.
Sir,when i started treatment my cd4 was 362 and after that it was 425,but after 6 month when i tested my cd4 was 429,Only marginal increase and my cd4%have gone down from 18% to 14 %.Kindly explain me the reason.
Hi Alex,
Its very possible that this was a blip, or its your natural CD4 count. Is your viral load undetectable?
Hi Valente,
With meds his CD4 will slowly begin to increase.
When you say liver failure, what do you mean? And what meds has he been given?
hi
my husband tested on the 1 September 2017 and he was diagnose with HIV, his CD4 count is 103 and he also have a liver failure. I’m really worried cause he gets weaker every day. he started with his meds only on the 6 September 2017