15% would you start HAART? TCells at 411 and VL about 25,000

[bimazek]

15% would you start HAART?  TCells at 411 and VL about 25,000

was at 24% a year ago
then 23% then 19%
now 15%

isnt the % kind of unreliable

cause my cd4 cells stayed the same

Dr. says i can wait for 3 more months

was infected 24 months ago

[Matty the Damned]

You should start medications and not in 3 months.

MtD

[allopathicholistic]

Dr. says i can wait for 3 more months

was infected 24 months ago

Unless I'm unclear about your post, it sounds to me like your Dr. is basically saying you should start meds  (Because 3 months flies by in an eyeblink. Just my view)

[newt]

If your CD4 is over/about 400 (1) retest (2) start if you wish -- both are valid calls

- matt

[risred1]

If you looking at the guideline that encourages meds at cd4 of 350 and/or VL at 100k, Which is the guideline I will be using, I would wait and retest in 3 months to see as there is fluctuation.

If you are inclined to use 500 as the line, then why would you wait since your already under 500 CD4.

This is a bit tricky, but you have to pick your formula with your doctor and when its time, do what needs to be done. It isn't like your going to be able to wait, as I won't, for the superior treatment for todays effective front line meds.

Unless your going to be able to get into a study with one of these super immune boosting or vaccine based or the new RNA altering meds, which even if bears fruit are at least 2-3 years away from production, your probably going to have to pick something that is in use today. I am not aware of anything really new coming out in the next 12 months worth waiting for. (?) We will get some study results, but from study results, its still take a fair amount of time for release of new drugs. Even then, most of these new treatments are approved for those with resistance, with continuing study to determine their durability so that they can be considered for front line treatment.

For example, when i was first taking to my doc about meds about 2 years ago, I was very interested in Reyataz. My doc was less enthusiastic as there wasn't enough study information to prove to him that the treatment was a durable as Kaletra or Sustiva based treatment. After 2 years, he has a good number of folks on Reyataz and it is working well for the patients who are taking it. For someone like me with lipid issues, Reyataz is favored based upon my discussion with my Doc.

So something like Isentess, even though it looks pretty good, is only for those with resistance, because there isn't much information on use as front line treatment and equally little information on durability. In other words, there are new drugs out there that have not been in circulation long enough to be recommended over current treatments which have proven their durability.

We can expect the emerging treatments to be looked at in the same light. These new promising treatments still have to prove themselves long term. Since we have what is considered tolerable new treatments that are durable, its going to take time to knock them off that perch. If one is able to control ones HIV on a treatment line for even several years, one might be inclined to stick with that treatment, if tolerable and effective, while the new treatments prove themselves.

My expectation is that you and I will be on a currently recommended front line treatment and wait until something that is so compelling and proven would push us off of treatment or if resistance develops.

All my best!

[sacinsc]

MY ID doc, doesn't even bother with the %, he says its not important really. I get it off my labs so I can post it here because many want to know them. I would say go back for another test in 1 month and see whats happening. I started these meds a month ago, now at night I look at them before I swallow and think about how im on these for the rest of my life. Try and stay off them as long as you can, thats just my opinion for what its worth. But my doc has told me the % is no longer looked at as important. When I dropped below CD4 400 he was going to start me then. Your viral load is load to.....I would just test in a month. But whatever you decide good luck.

Matt