Question
Please can you answer these three questions about CD4 count?
9 October 2013. Related: All topics, CD4 and viral load.
Please can you give me advice about these three situations?
Situation 1: I am last two years positive. age 33 man. i am not on medicine. my cd4 1515. viral load undetectable.
No smoking no drinking. Eat well. Can I live long?
Situation 2: I am fit and hiv+ my last cd4- 1200. no viral load. I am not on meds because i am afraid about ARVs.
what can i do? what is the right time to start ARVs? can I use a healthy diet to improve my CD4 count without using ARVs for 15-20 years?
Situation 3: My CD4 660 viral load 400. i am not on med. if my CD4 is over 500, does that mean i am normal as HIV negative person? I am slim so what can do to increase my weight?
Answer
Hi,
Thanks for your emails. Please see our Introduction to combination therapy for general information about CD4 counts, viral loads and starting treatment.
Situation 1
A CD4 count of 1515 is high but still in the normal range. The ‘normal’ range for HIV negative people is 400-1600, so you are right at the top of this. This suggests that your immune system has not been damaged by HIV. It is very unusual to have an undetectable viral load when you are not on treatment. A very small number of people do have this, but it’s important to check with your doctor if this is correct.
If these test results are correct this means you are doing very well. You will need to be monitored regularly by a doctor. If your CD4 count drops you may need to start treatment with ARVs. In the UK people usually start treatment when thier CD4 coiunt is between 350 and 500. So long as you start treatment if/when you need it your life expectancy almost the same as an HIV negative person.
Situation 2
When you say you have ‘no viral load’ do you mean that you have been told this is undetectable, or that you do not have access to viral load testing?
A CD4 count of 1200 is very good. In most countries people don’t start ARVs until their CD4 count is below either 500 or 350.
Almost everybody needs treatment at some point but the time it takes between infection and your CD4 count dropping to 350 varies a lot between people. Please see this page about average time to treatment.
No foods, supplements or herbs can increase your CD4 count. ARVs are the only medicines that can do this. Eating a healthy diet may help to maintain your CD4 count for longer though and is good for your health generally.
Situation 3
Are you HIV positive? I have assumed that you are in answering this question, although you as if you are normal ‘as HIV negative person’.
A CD4 count of 660 is very good, and a viral load of 400 is also good. This shows that your immune system is still strong. Please see this page for information about CD4 counts and risk of illness.
If you want to gain weight you will need to increase the number of calories you eat. If you are worried that your weight is too low and you can not gain weight it’s important to discuss this with your doctor.
Hi Bryen,
There are several trials under way that are looking at injectable ARVs. At the moment these are still in the trial stage and aren’t ready to be rolled out to the public. When they are this is something that will be reported in the media as well as this site.
With regards to a cure, I’d love to see what developed in my life time, but I really don’t know if this is going to happen. There are though many very committed people working to find one.
Good day
Here are my question to this big challenge in our lives.
1. Your concerns do you see Hiv n Aids combat one day?
2. Few months ago I heard on media talking about injection supposly to last for the whole month, is this under process or failed some how?
3. My view I support circumcision.
4. I suggest we need to group hiv laboratories globally together and pp with valuable financial generosity to this issue.
Hi Abrahm,
Staring treatment can reduce your viral load very quickly. And reducing your viral load to undetectable, that is less than 50, means there is zero risk of HIV transmission. You can find out more about this in the PARTNER study.
Your CD4 count tells you the strength of your immune system. The normal CD4 range for an HIV negative person is between 460 and 1600. There’s more info about CD4 here.
I am 43 years and was test positive last 25th september 2017 My CD4 is 450 and i do not know my viral load and i start treating the next day being 26th of september 2017 . I tested my wife and she was negative on 27th the same sepember 2017. Please I have been on treatment for four months now and i had sex with my wife just on 3rd febuary 2018 and finaly i discoverred that the comdom i have used had a little opening. Please i want to know if i have passed the virus to her or can she be effected.
Hi Smita,
If your father in law on medication?
my father in law has a cd4 365 and viral load 10 plz suggest his state for treatment.
Hello Thaii,
A CD4 count of 508 is strong and that shows your immune system can work well. But recommendations in most countries for HIV treatment is to start ARVs at any CD4 count.
That’s because the START study showed that HIV treatment has important benefits for your health, even if your CD4 count is still high.
There’s more info about START here.
I’m 508 cd and 400 viral load without medication positive so should i start ARVs or should i continued with my diet
Hi Gerald, we are not a general medical site, so best to ask your doctor this.
Am HIV negative and my CD4 are low,what could be the issue that led to the decrease of CD4