POZ Community Forums
Main Forums => Living With HIV => Topic started by: whizzer on October 07, 2006, 10:05:59 pm
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I was diagnosed HIV positive one year ago. I had repeated positive ELISA tests and repeatedly indeterminate Western Blots (two of four bands detected, GP 120 and GP-160) during September 05. The positive diagnosis was made by DNA PCR confirmation tests. Last December I had CD4 and Viral Load testing. CD4=309, VL= 50,000. The antibody tests were repeated at that time as well: ELISA positive, WB indeterminate (again, two of four bands detected). In January, my CD4s declined to 262, VL increased to 59,000. I elected to start HAART.
I responded well to treatment with a large rebound in CD4s and a slow drop in viral load over six months to (finally) undetectable.
On my one-year anniversary of the very first positive ELISA test, I had to get my routine blood work done. Just for shits and grins, we decided to repeat the Western Blot. It was STILL indeterminate, with only one band detected now (the GP 160 band). Oh, CD4s were 648, viral load undetectable.
Any ideas on why I don't have a strong antibody response after a year? Is this bad?
I've had 13 HIV-1 RNA PCRs done in the last year. All except the last one detected viral loads. The DNA PCR I had September a year ago showed proviral DNA.
Thanks guys,
Whizzer
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Hey Whiz,
It is possible the viral load is so low, thanks to the ARVs, your body isn't creating a heavy antibody response.
I know that, if a person is undetectable, it is sometimes (often) impossible to do a GART because there isn't enough of the virus to check for resistance to meds.
Perhaps the same thing occurs with the Western Blot. I don't know. But it is interesting.
HUGS,
Mark
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