Question

Is inflammation a problem if I am on treatment?

14 July 2010. Related: All topics, Side effects.

Hi,

I was reading about inflammation caused by HIV and wondered how much of a problem it is once you are undetectable. If it still is a problem once you are undetectable what can be done to minimise the effects?

Thanks

Answer

Answer: Charlotte Walker

Thank you for your question.

Inflammation is an immune response to infection. Before you started treatment your body would have been making an immune response to the HIV in your body.

Once you started treatment your HIV viral load would have gone to undetectable levels. When the viral load is undetectable this reduces any inflammation related to HIV down to very low levels.

The significance of this is not know, but is the subject of ongoing research.

For more information please follow this link