Question
How can my CD4 count increase and I am not on treatment?
9 March 2012. Related: All topics, CD4 and viral load, Starting treatment.
I just found out that I’m HIV positive during my pregnancy but my husband is negative. The first time I took test for my CD4 count they were 671 after a week I took the other one they came back 697 and mind you at that time I was not on a medication up until now as I’m waiting for the medical aid to send me the medication in the next coming 3 days. I just need a clarity on that how possible is that my cd4 count to increase if I’m not on medication.
Answer
I can understand that you are puzzled by the slight increase in your CD4 count, even though you have not started your treatment.
It is normal for CD4 counts to fluctuate. The fluctuation could be a result of many things such as the time of the day, exercise, how tired or stress you are and whether you have other infections like a cold or the flu.
The only way for you to increase your CD4 count is by starting treatment. There are no other products such as vitamins, supplement or herbal remedies, which can help to increase your CD4 count.
HIV medication works by stopping the virus from replicating itself. Once the viral load has been reduced (to less than 50 copies), then your CD4 count will start to rise again, but not normally to the level before infection.
Staying healthy by eating a nutritious balanced diet, exercising regularly, and stopping smoking can help to reduce stress levels. All of these can help to maintain a healthy immune system. This will not necessarily increase your CD4 count but it can help to maintain it.
There are a few factors that you need to know before starting treatment. I include a link for you on starting treatment:
https://i-base.info/guides/starting
Please take your time reading it and you have any further queries, do write back to me.
Can I ask, whether you are receiving prenatal treatment at the moment? If you do not have any, perhaps you can try contacting your local hospital for assistance.
It is important for the members of the health care team to have specialist experience with HIV positive women. They can give you the extra support throughout your pregnancy.
For more information on HIV and pregnancy, please follow this link to our guide to HIV pregnancy and women’s health
Me & my husband we went for HIV test his result came back negative while min came back positive, we did 3 tests at different places but the result came back saying the same thing. I would like to know how possible is that.
Hi Justin, there are no interactions between your medications and paracetamol. It’s fine to take these together. I hope you feel better soon!
Im taking my efavirenz and lamivudine-zid. Regularly
And i have cold and flu right now can i take paracetamol?
I was pregnant 7 months ago but I miscarried. My cd ws 198, I was taking AZT but I stopped.
Hi Sbongile,
I’m very sorry to hear about your miscarriage. Do you have any support to help you deal with this?
Are you on any treatment for HIV? If not it’s important to start treatment soon because when your CD4 count is under 200 you are at risk of getting sick. Do you have access to any HIV services?
CD4 counts are measured using blood samples. There’s more information about CD4 counts in our treatment training guide.
How do they test somebody’s CD4 count?
There is no need to change your ARVs just because you are pregnant. In 2012, the UK guidelines (BHIVA) for treating HIV during pregnancy included a recommendation that there is no longer any need for women to change from using efavirenz. The ARVs you are already on will be good for both you and your baby and they will reduce the risk of mother to child transmisson. Whether you continue taking Bactrim (also called cotrimoxazole) will depend on your CD4 count. As you have been on treatment for over a year, if your CD4 count is over 200 your doctor may decide that you no longer need this. If s/he decides that you need it for your own health, this is also better for your baby, as your baby will need you to be healthy.
One study reported many benefits from HIV positive mothers using Bactrim (cotrimoxazole) during pregnancy if they had a low CD4 count and that this included outcomes for the baby, but you are right to talk to your doctor more about your conerns.
Hi, last year in August I started my ARVs which are 3TC (lamivudine), TDF (tenofivir) and EFV (efavirenz) plus Ilvitrim (Bactrim). Now I’m 25 weeks pregnant but I found out while I was 4 weeks, so I was hoping maybe they will change my tablet for mother to child prevention, but they didn’t. This worries me the most. Also, how safe is it to use Ilvitrim while pregnant? Thank you
Hi Angelenette,
When did you start treatment? Can you tell me what your CD4 count is now, and what it was when you started treatment?