Question
Why are both my viral load and CD4 results are both dropping?
13 February 2007. Related: All topics, CD4 and viral load.
I have been diagnosed with HIV for 16 months but can’t understand why my viral loads decreasing so much. My last test results were as follows:
CD4 = 422 Viral Load = 39000.
Before that they were
CD4 = 524 Viral Load = 118000
Before they were
CD4 = 658 Viral Load = 265000
As you can see there is a shift in its pattern. Shouldn’t it be that my CD4 drops and my viral Load goes up! It seems that my bodies natural defense is working overtime whilst damaging my immune system at the same time. Why is this happening?
Answer
Thanks for posting your results.
In order to answer your question it would help to know the rough dates (ie month and year) for these results so that I know how far part they are – ie every month or every 3- 6 months.
Because your viral load has been dropping, you may have been infected close to when you were diagnosed and your immune system may still be bringing your viral load down as part of your body’s immune response.
CD4 counts can vary and fluctuate so continuing to monitor is important, as they may stabilise or even go back up over the next year.
Ask your doctor for your CD4 percentage. If this is also dropping then this may be a real effect but you still have a strong count and treatment wouldn’t be recommended until your count drops to between 200-350 cells/mm3.
There is a wide variability of responses in different people, especially in early infection.
You are right that the pattern is usually for the CD4 count and viral load to go in opposite directions, but a few people have different responses – in both directions – for reasons that are not fully understood.
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