Hi all

[Daniel2012]

Hi all,
Posting after a long time. Hope all are doing well and fighting fit. Was dx in March 18 with vl 16000 & cd4 236. Did my first test after 3 months and again did the tests after 6 months. The results came in today and I guess it is numbers crunching time again.
Best news is that I remain UD. My cd4 had increased to 350 in june but now it has dipped to 300 (?). But Cd3/cd4 ratio has increased from 14 to 22 percent. Both my cd3 & cd8 which were quite high are now within range from 2148 to 1180 & 1650 to 800 respectively. So I guess my guts are fighting back though absolute cd4 has dipped by 50. Should I be concerned? Faced no weakness or illness during the last 6 months. Infact, I feel better as m taking care of my health for the first time in my life. Started working out too. Mentally good except the daily reminder of my status when I pop my descovy & tivicay combo.
Regards to all

[Daniel2012]

Oops, forgot to put up my query.
How is it that cd drops from 350 to 300 but cd4 percentage increased from 14 to 22? Can anyone throw some light on which is a better indicator of ones condition; absolute cd4 count or cd4 percentage?

[MadDog125]

I had a 50 count drop on my test results from November.  I asked my ID about it.  He wasn't concerned.  He told me the percentage is a more accurate indicator.

[MarkintheDark]

A drop of 50/cu ml isn't something about which to be alarmed since your CD4 can change throughout the day.  @MadDog125 is correct in his assessment, perhaps confusing sometimes b/c most of us tend to focus on the absolute counts out of habit and convenience.  More importantly, you're UD and >200 on your CD4 absolute.  I usually maintain that the best indicator is how do you feel? 

On the CD3/CD4 ratio, let me give you a link that may explain it better than I can: http://www.thebody.com/Forums/AIDS/Labs/Q229289.html.

It sounds to me like there's some confusion about that ratio (CD3 = CD4 + CD8) vs. a CD4 percentage alone.  I'll usually look for a CD4 percentage >14...well, in my case, I can hope, can't I? ;-)

[Jim Allen]

Perfect, glad to hear you are UD 

Oops, forgot to put up my query.
How is it that cd drops from 350 to 300 but cd4 percentage increased from 14 to 22? Can anyone throw some light on which is a better indicator of ones condition; absolute cd4 count or cd4 percentage?

Neither are very relavent, certainly not from one single lab result and in a suppressed viral load situation.

The CD4 can go up and down by 100 points on the same day, also its not a measurement of overall health and nothing you can do will change them or the rather irrelevant meaning of them in someone UD and above the "Advanced HIV stage /AIDS stage.

The CD4% is a more stable marker than the absolute CD4 count. That said same as total count it's rather irrelevant in a  suppressed viral load situation once above the "Advanced HIV stage /AIDS stage, the % has increased though from 14 %  to 22% .. cool.

22% simply put means 22% of your lymphocytes are CD4 cells.

That's my thoughts on it

. Jim

[emililadjet]

Hi all,
Posting after a long time. Hope all are doing well and fighting fit. Was dx in March 18 with vl 16000 & cd4 236. Did my first test after 3 months and again did the tests after 6 months. The results came in today and I guess it is numbers crunching time again.
Best news is that I remain UD. My cd4 had increased to 350 in june but now it has dipped to 300 (?). But Cd3/cd4 ratio has increased from 14 to 22 percent. Both my cd3 & cd8 which were quite high are now within range from 2148 to 1180 & 1650 to 800 respectively. So I guess my guts are fighting back though absolute cd4 has dipped by 50. Should I be concerned? Faced no weakness or illness during the last 6 months. Infact, I feel better as m taking care of my health for the first time in my life. Started working out too. Mentally good except the daily reminder of my status when I pop my descovy & tivicay combo.
Regards to all

Hello Daniel2012, and welcome after this very long period 

[Jim Allen]

@emililadjet

Welcome to the forum, I hope you are doing well

As you are new to the forum it is customary to open your own introduction thread. You can do so in the  "I just tested positive" section if you are new to living with HIV or in the "Living with HIV" section if you have been living with HIV for longer.

Introducing yourself can be daunting but perhaps you can answer some basics in your first thread like: How you are getting on? What treatment are you taking, how is that going? What your labs are like etc etc

Thank you

Jim

[Daniel2012]

Hi all
A big thanks to all for the prompt clarifications and kind words of encouragement. Really appreciate it and made my day. Its just that relatively newbies like me are overwhelmed by all these parameters and their fluctuations. Also the ID docs also do not elaborate at length on this.
Btw, wishing you all merry Christmas and a happy New year well in advance.
Regards.

[em]

in my own experience with my numbers

they go down a bit come winter and back up a bit for summer ?