Question
Why does my CD4 count drops?
24 February 2012. Related: All topics, CD4 and viral load.
Why does CD4 count drops?
Answer
There are many reasons why your CD4 count can drop.
If you have any kind of infection such as cold, flu or fever then it can cause your CD4 to drop.
If someone is infected by immune deficiency illness such as cancer or HIV, this can also reduces their CD4 count. If not treated, their CD4 count can drop to a very low level and they can develop other opportunistic illnesses (OIs).
HIV medication works by stopping the virus from replicating itself and therefore preventing the virus from further damaging the immune system. When your viral load has been reduce to undetectable level (less than 50 copies) then your CD4 count will go up, but not to the level before infection.
For more information on the same subject, please look at the link below.
Hi RM. We sometimes here this and usually it is not a worry and the CD4 goes back up again. As this has dropped twice and it is now close to 350, your doctor should take this more seriously. One easy thing to to ask whether your CD4 percentage (CD4%) has changed. If this has also dropped you doctor should look in why. It is also good to repeat the CD4 test to see if this is a lab error.
Hi,
I began with ART in Jan 2014, I have been undetectable ever since 3 months from start of treatment.
In 2015, my CD4 peaked to 976 and in December that year, dropped to 436 and June 2016 further down to 376.
Doc says not a worry because load is undetectable, but could there be any other cause for this decline?
Hi Prince – there is no difference between 649 and 530 – at least not to a doctor. You CD4 count can vary this much over a few days or weeks and then go back again. This is not an indication that anything is wrong. you have a good CD4 count and small changes are not important unless they drop much lower.
What made my cd4 count about 649 to drop to 530 when am still taking my treatment. I contacted my doctor with this issue, she said its because i had an unprotected sex. Buh a month later without having sex i went to the hospital to check but stil yet my cd4 count has dropped to 430cells. What should i do?
Hi Vuyiswa
Cd4 counts can go up and down even when treatment is still working.
In the UK, you would have a viral load test. Which country are you in and can you get this?
If viral load is detectable – especially if it is above 1000 copies/mL then your doctor should talk about other meds.
Without more details about your current treatment, your historym and where you are, it is difficult to help more.
Also, we ar enot doctors, just providing infomration to help when you talk to your doctor.
Hi Doctor
My cd4 count hs dropped frm 269 to 189. I am really worried cause im a positive for almost 20 yrs now. Anything i can do to increase my cd 4 count
My doctor told me about resistance on my medicatoon but im am taking my medication reguraly.
Please help me as soon as u can..
Hi,
This drop in your CD4 count is not serious and is quite common. Have you had your viral load taken? If it is undetectable this shows your treatment is working.
Many things can affect your CD4 count. This can even be what time of day you have tested, or if you have worked out before. One CD4 count that is lower than the previous one is not something not be worried about. Generally doctors take several results over a longer period of time. They use these to see if overall, over time, your CD4 is increasing.
Hi, i’m just worried. In 2013 my CD4 count was 413, in 2014 it increased to 613 and now in February 2016 it has dropped to 538. Is this normal? Why does it suddenly drop?
Everyone responds differently to treatment and everyone has a different ‘normal’ CD4 count.
You are doing really well so far, so I wouldn’t worry any more about your CD4 count – just be careful to take your meds on time – and the Cd4 counts should stay at least this high.
In 2008 my cd4 count was 157 and I was put on medication now its 479 is it ok or itcould have gone beyond 800?