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Author Topic: Dramatic Decrease in T-cells  (Read 3409 times)

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Offline workinalot

  • New Member
  • Posts: 2
Dramatic Decrease in T-cells
« on: April 08, 2008, 01:26:45 pm »
Hello,

I have a question about a dramatic decrease in T-cells that just happened to me.  Here's my history:

1) I became HIV+ 7 years ago and immediately started Combivir/Sustiva.  After 1.5 years of that, and after my Viral Load was undectable for quite some time, I went off the medication (with my doctor's guidance).

2) Since that time, we've been monitoring my t-cells and viral load every 3 mos... and, I've never dropped below 350 t-cells.  And, my viral load has never been over 40k.

3) This month, however, my t-cells dropped to 163 (21%) and my viral load is 43k.  About 5 mos ago, my t-cells were 370 and my viral load was 40k.  (I'm not sure what the t-cell % was at that time).

4) My doctor immediately started me on Atripla (and S/TMP to ward off any pneumonia attack).

I've not been sick at all the last year... not even a cold.  I'm just trying to understand what might have caused the dramatic decrease in t-cells.  Any comments anyone has would be great.  I mean, the numbers are what they are, and at the very least we caught it now so we could act on it.

Should I ask my doctor to screen me for any other potential infections that could be causing this?  Right now, I'm just scheduled to check my t-cells and viral load in about 2 weeks.

Thanks in advance for your comments/suggestions.

Offline Grasshopper

  • Member
  • Posts: 738
Re: Dramatic Decrease in T-cells
« Reply #1 on: April 08, 2008, 01:41:50 pm »


I'm just trying to understand what might have caused the dramatic decrease in t-cells. 

Going off meds ?!

Offline Fabrizio

  • Member
  • Posts: 17
Re: Dramatic Decrease in T-cells
« Reply #2 on: April 08, 2008, 02:01:35 pm »
Hello,

Your viral load is stable, there's no difference at all between 40k and 43k (this difference is well within the three-fold margin of error of the VL test). Your CD4 have surely suffered a dramatic decrease
(which is not that surprising who already was on medication... it would be helpful to know what was your CD4 count after 18 months on that combination).

I agree with your doctor:  Atripla is the best answer to a result under 200 CD4 cells (even if this was cause by an infection, I would consider treatment even with your older result of 363 CD4 cells). Good news is that your CD4% is better that the absolute number (I would expect to see a CD4% around 16% with a CD4 count of 163). This confirms that you are right when you say "we caught it now so we could act on it": you are in a relatively good situation and Atripla will do its part.

Let us know how it goes with Atripla.

Fabrizio
Worried and Optimistic Negative Partner

Offline beaubrent

  • Member
  • Posts: 44
Re: Dramatic Decrease in T-cells
« Reply #3 on: April 08, 2008, 02:02:12 pm »
I went off my meds once, for three months, and my counts plummeted. Went back on with no problems. I wouldn't worry, it's a normal part of the drill. You've got a doctor watching you, you're not sick, and it's your second combo. You're in a good position.
When I found out I had HIV,

I woke up and started living.

Offline BT65

  • Global Moderator
  • Member
  • Posts: 10,786
Re: Dramatic Decrease in T-cells
« Reply #4 on: April 08, 2008, 03:07:02 pm »
Going off the meds, of course.  Last year I went off meds; in 3 months my CD4s went from 600-300 and my vl went from undetectable to 214,000.  I don't recommend this to anyone and there's more medical evidence about not doing this also.
I've never killed anyone, but I frequently get satisfaction reading the obituary notices.-Clarence Darrow

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Please check out our lessons on PEP and PrEP. https://www.poz.com/basics/hiv-basics/pep-prep

https://www.poz.com/basics/hiv-basics/treatmentasprevention-tasp

Offline workinalot

  • New Member
  • Posts: 2
Re: Dramatic Decrease in T-cells
« Reply #5 on: April 08, 2008, 10:25:35 pm »
Thanks, guys.  I should have been explicit that I went off my first set of meds over 5 years ago... and was able to maintain a t-cell count above 350 without being on medication.  It's only within the last few months that the dramatic drop has occurred when off medication.

Just thought of another question:  It looks as if you're not supposed to take Antihistamines (Clarinex) with Atripla.  Any comments or suggestions on other relief for seasonal allergies?  Thanks again.

Offline BT65

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  • Member
  • Posts: 10,786
Re: Dramatic Decrease in T-cells
« Reply #6 on: April 08, 2008, 10:29:20 pm »
I don't know what to tell you about taking antihistamines with Atripla (see the drugs link under the Aidsmeds logo), but I can tell you that when you're off meds, sooner or later the shit's going to hit the fan.
I've never killed anyone, but I frequently get satisfaction reading the obituary notices.-Clarence Darrow

Condom and Lube Info https://www.poz.com/basics/hiv-basics/safer-sex
Please check out our lessons on PEP and PrEP. https://www.poz.com/basics/hiv-basics/pep-prep

https://www.poz.com/basics/hiv-basics/treatmentasprevention-tasp

Offline LatinAlexander

  • Member
  • Posts: 599
  • Bogota, Colombia
Re: Dramatic Decrease in T-cells
« Reply #7 on: April 09, 2008, 07:43:10 am »
Well, going off meds is something sooo controversial. I had to take a 6 or 7 weeks break because of side effects (Sustiva+Combivir). My CD4 decreased from 450 to 414 , but my VL kept undetectable.

Anyway, I decided to keep on going on meds (same combo) . Now , for reference, when I was diagnosed, my CD4 where 250 and VL 3400 (yes, tiny, but those bitches are like the gunman of the CD4 assasins)

Alex
Poz since Jul 19 2006
Initial numbers : CD4-250 VL 3500
First labs after HAART (Dec 04-2006) : CD4-432 VL-<40 (Undetectable)  cd4%=25.11%
Started HAART: Combivir+Efavirenz Aug 26 7:38 pm
Feb 08 2007 - Gradually stopping HAART cause of Myalgia. Protecting Efavirenz. Stopped Efavirenz, ahead with Combivir....
February 17 Combivir stopped.
April 3 -07 : Started ddi+3tc+efavirenz...
Gay and positive (What a lack of Identity...:) )
Looking for my Ben....

Offline PPK

  • Member
  • Posts: 3
Re: Dramatic Decrease in T-cells
« Reply #8 on: April 09, 2008, 02:53:54 pm »
keep taking the meds....and count your lucky stars, AS I DO, that the meds are as easy to deal with as they are.

Compared to what people went through like 5-10 and more years ago ...we are all very fortunate to have what we have today as far as medicine.

I wouldn't worry....Your Dr. seems to be doing the right thing to put you on meds now.

Take Care.

Offline Miss Philicia

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  • Posts: 24,793
  • celebrity poster, faker & poser
Re: Dramatic Decrease in T-cells
« Reply #9 on: April 09, 2008, 03:39:00 pm »
I would never go off of meds, but then I'm just a lemming or that's what I was told last week.  My virus is a nasty, pesky breed of one though... so there you go.

I have a friend who has been off of all meds for 3 years or so and seems to be doing well, but then again I can never get a straight answer out of this queen about what his lab numbers are.  She's one of those secretive types.
"I’ve slept with enough men to know that I’m not gay"

 


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