Question
Is HIV causing my low platelet count?
28 April 2011. Related: All topics, Living with HIV long-term, Other tests, Starting treatment, Support.
Hello,
I am HIV with good value of CD4, ranging between 700-600 with CD4% of 25%-26%, no therapy at the moment.
The problem is that I have a very low level of platelets ranging between 50,000 and 32,000. My doctor is sure that this very low level of platelets is due to the HIV infection that is attacking them. Now, I need an advice, my doctor wants me to start HAART in order to improve the platelet count. On my side I think I still have a very good level of CD4 and would like to wait. What do you think?
Thanks a lot for your support!
Answer
Thank you for your question.
You are the one who has to make the decision about when to start treatment. At the moment it is a lifelong commitment and you need to ensure you are ready for it both physically and emotionally. For more information about starting treatment please follow this link.
Your doctor is right that it could be HIV that is causing your platelet levels to drop and starting treatment may well increase your platelet count again. For a full explanation please follow this link to a similar question.
Hi Clarence,
The most common way to become HIV positive is to have condomless sex with a person who is not on HIV treatment (ART) with detectable levels of HIV in the blood. If you have low platelets you can discuss it with your doctor. If platelet levels are very low, you can bleed spontaneously, including internally, and this can be serious.
Hello everyone I have low platelets and I was wondering can I get HIV or AIDS when it comes down to having low platelets
Hi Melisse,
i-base advocates aren’t medical doctors, therefore we aren’t able to give you info about which biopsy you should do. Please discuss this with your doctor as see the advice in the above post.
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