CD4 and Viral load question

[motherinneed]

Okay what if your viral load is undetectable, but at the same time your CD4 is continuing to drop?
Meds need to be changed? or is the person dying? Need to know, please.
thanks.

[aztecan]

Hey Mother,

An undetectable viral load means the meds are doing their job - which is killing the virus in our system.

Changing meds won't improve a person's CD4 levels. That is up to the body to do.

Sometimes it takes time before the CD4 rebounds, especially if someones CD4 has dropped to a rather low level. I have seen CD4s continue to drop before they finally began to rise in some people.

It is also possible other forces are at work. Someone co-infected with Hep C or chronic Hep B may find improvements in CD4 levels are frustratingly slow.

In some cases I have seen, people with co-infections never see a large rebound in CD4s.

Another factor could be other types of infections, such as syphilis, MAC, etc.

Environmental factors also could be playing a part. Stress can cause the CD4s to drop. Also, heavy alcohol use can negatively affect CD4s.

The best bet would be for you or the person who is infected to see the doctor and discuss it with him/her.

There are many factors which could be affect CD4s.

Probably not the definitive answer you wanted, but I hope this helps.

HUGS,

Mark

[motherinneed]

thank you Mark, that was a very good answer. You helped alot.
Thank you so much.
motherinneed
Hugs to you too!