Concern?

[samm2015]

Its been long time since diagnosis and things have been great. I have been taking my doses on time, being safe while having sex and everything. I had my labs yesterday, and my cd4 have been down considerably. It's 390 as opposed to 640 in my previous labs. Which has got me concerned. What's not helping is my viral load results are not back yet. So there is no way to know if the dip in cd4 Needs to be treated more seriously. My Cd4 % is 39. I know there is not much that anyone can tell than to wait for vl results but it's keeping me anxious and I just wanted to know if anyone had similar experience before that could help me keep my sanity.

[Jim Allen]

CD4's will vary from test date to test date. Look it's near 400 so given its a only snapshot moment and well above anything of any concern why worry about it at all? 

As for the vl, all you can do is take your meds and be adherent to keep the HIV  supressed, so long as you are doing that the expected results should be ud. So stop worrying about it, results are what they are.

Keep us posted when you have the vl results in.

Jim

[Ptrk3]

Jim is correct.  You have no concrete reason to be concerned, especially since your CD4 percentage is high.

You may have had a cold or an unrelated infection, which could lower the absolute CD4 count.

If your VL remains "undetectable," just consider it a "one off."

[Jim Allen]

Patrick is correct, the 39% is bloody good 

Look if you're worried about an unexpectedly low count then your CD4% will help you understand if this is a real change. The percentage is more stable than the exact CD4 count.

your test reports CD4% = 39%, that means that 39% of your lymphocytes are CD4 cells. The average normal CD4% for HIV negative adults is about 40%.

So what more do you want  you are doing fine.

Jim

[samm2015]

@jim. @ptrk3 thanks guys, I did have cold few weeks ago and minor infection here and there so that could be the possibility of lower cd4 . Good cd4 % is what keeping me hopeful as it has changed for good from 38 to 39. I hope vl results brings smile back on my face.

[Ptrk3]

I would expect that your VL remains at "undetectable."  It reads to me that the cold and minor infection caused the temporary CD4 drop.

[bocker3]

I say this alot on here --  focusing on a single instance of a single lab test is almost never helpful, as it does not provide the "story" or full picture (with very rare exceptions, like a VL test - and even then, a single instance is unhelpful, it is a trend that matters).

Many things, other than HIV, can impact your CD4 count.  Given that your CD4% remained the same, I'd say that you probably will see either a lower total lymph count and/or a lower WBC count within your CBC.  A viral infection, like a cold, can lower either/both of total lymph/WBC.  If your total WBC count is lower, it stands to reason that your CD4 count would be down too - as they are a type of WBC.  Same for total lymphs -- CD4's are a type of lymph cell.

So -- as Ptrk and Jim stated -- there is likely nothing to fear here.  What ever may have "caused" this lower count is probably not HIV. 

What has your doctor said about your lab results?  That is always the best place to look -- if he/she is not concerned, you are in an OK spot.  There is a reason that we go to doctors and don't manage our health on our own ---  it is a complex thing!!

Now -- go do something that makes you happy, so you can forget about that one, silly, number!!!

Mike

[samm2015]

Thanks Mike that was really useful.

Just got off the phone from doctors office. Viral load is undetectable  that made my day. I still need to know what doctor thinks about lower cd4 count but the huge burden of my chest now, since the vl results are back.