Why is my CD4 count still high?

May 31, 2009

HIV infection is a chronic disease which can be compared to a protracted war where either side may appear to have the upper hand. When someone gets infected with HIV, the virus normally finds the person has a high CD4 count.

Face HIV with Dr. Watiti

Dear Doctor,
I am HIV-positive and taking septrin and multivitamins. In August last year I took a CD4 count test and it was 398 cells/ml. When I took another one in May this year the results were 451 cells/ml. Was there an error? I expect the CD4 count to be going down since I am not on ARVs.
TK

Dear TK,
HIV infection is a chronic disease which can be compared to a protracted war where either side may appear to have the upper hand. When someone gets infected with HIV, the virus normally finds the person has a high CD4 count.

Although the viral load is very high, because of an intact immune system, it is brought down. At that time the CD4 count may come down but after that there is a period, which may last many years, when the CD4 count and viral load may keep fluctuating depending on factors such as the environment, nutrition, the strength of the virus and one’s natural immunity.

Septrin prophylaxis, sleeping under an insecticide treated mosquito net, good hygiene, plus good nutrition also help to delay the progression of HIV infection to the AIDS stage when one needs to be on ARVs.

The fact that you are on septrin and multivitamins may have caused your CD4 count to remain stable and increase.

However, I suggest that you regularly have your viral load checked because a high viral load usually leads to fast progression of the HIV infection to AIDS.

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