Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
March 28, 2024, 02:25:29 pm

Login with username, password and session length


Members
Stats
  • Total Posts: 772946
  • Total Topics: 66310
  • Online Today: 424
  • Online Ever: 5484
  • (June 18, 2021, 11:15:29 pm)
Users Online
Users: 0
Guests: 354
Total: 354

Welcome


Welcome to the POZ Community Forums, a round-the-clock discussion area for people with HIV/AIDS, their friends/family/caregivers, and others concerned about HIV/AIDS.  Click on the links below to browse our various forums; scroll down for a glance at the most recent posts; or join in the conversation yourself by registering on the left side of this page.

Privacy Warning:  Please realize that these forums are open to all, and are fully searchable via Google and other search engines. If you are HIV positive and disclose this in our forums, then it is almost the same thing as telling the whole world (or at least the World Wide Web). If this concerns you, then do not use a username or avatar that are self-identifying in any way. We do not allow the deletion of anything you post in these forums, so think before you post.

  • The information shared in these forums, by moderators and members, is designed to complement, not replace, the relationship between an individual and his/her own physician.

  • All members of these forums are, by default, not considered to be licensed medical providers. If otherwise, users must clearly define themselves as such.

  • Forums members must behave at all times with respect and honesty. Posting guidelines, including time-out and banning policies, have been established by the moderators of these forums. Click here for “Do I Have HIV?” posting guidelines. Click here for posting guidelines pertaining to all other POZ community forums.

  • We ask all forums members to provide references for health/medical/scientific information they provide, when it is not a personal experience being discussed. Please provide hyperlinks with full URLs or full citations of published works not available via the Internet. Additionally, all forums members must post information which are true and correct to their knowledge.

  • Product advertisement—including links; banners; editorial content; and clinical trial, study or survey participation—is strictly prohibited by forums members unless permission has been secured from POZ.

To change forums navigation language settings, click here (members only), Register now

Para cambiar sus preferencias de los foros en español, haz clic aquí (sólo miembros), Regístrate ahora

Finished Reading This? You can collapse this or any other box on this page by clicking the symbol in each box.

Author Topic: Lower CD4 %  (Read 9699 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline EUINAU

  • Member
  • Posts: 71
  • New to This
Lower CD4 %
« on: January 19, 2014, 11:07:27 am »
My latest lab results are in and it seems all is good though my CD4% trend is surprising...

My last three CD4 counts were 574, 575 and now 620
CD4% from 32% down to 25 to now 20%
VL from almost UD, UD and now probably UD as well ( waiting for results)

I am on Truvada and Isentress feeling well. All my blood work seems ok. Anyone had similar experience with decline in CD4%?

Offline eric48

  • Standard
  • Member
  • Posts: 1,361
Re: Lower CD4 %
« Reply #1 on: January 19, 2014, 04:44:11 pm »
Hi,

I have had a drop of 12% (from 51 to 39) and (by chance) a complete STI panel , nothing was found.

Now, if your CD4% goes down , of course, your CD8% goes up.

Mine do that in the winter (eventhough I hardly ever catch flue or cold)

If this goes on, make sure to discuss it with your doctor. Maybe some other infection?

Hope this helps

Eric
NVP/ABC/3TC/... UD ; CD4 > 900; CD4/CD8 ~ 1.5   stock : 6 months (2013: FOTO= 5d. ON 2d. OFF ; 2014: Clin. Trial NCT02157311 = 4days ON, 3days OFF ; 2015: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02157311 ; 2016: use of granted patent US9101633, 3 days ON, 4days OFF; 2017: added TDF, so NVP/TDF/ABC/3TC, once weekly

Offline newt

  • Member
  • Posts: 3,900
  • the one and original newt
Re: Lower CD4 %
« Reply #2 on: January 20, 2014, 03:29:45 pm »
How is the decline in % important when your viral load is suppressed and CD4 count in normal range? - matt
"The object is to be a well patient, not a good patient"

Offline Since2005

  • Member
  • Posts: 434
Re: Lower CD4 %
« Reply #3 on: January 20, 2014, 06:22:27 pm »
How is the decline in % important when your viral load is suppressed and CD4 count in normal range? - matt

That is also my heart burning question. Thanks OP for posting this -

So, my doc says that declining % is a good indication of one's immune system is slowly declining. I had a doc visit happened and I have found out that my CD4 is around 460 and viral load is 8/9k which is steady and has been that way for last couple of  years but my percentage is declining. My percentage is @ 16%. I have another lab coming up in few months and we can figure out more to see what's going on with my health. FYI, I am not on meds.

So, lower cd4 does count, right? If someone has higher cd4 count lets say around 500 and viral load is under 10k, it still doesn't matter because of lower percentage. OP is a good example here. So, questions is how much "percentage" matter?

Offline EUINAU

  • Member
  • Posts: 71
  • New to This
Re: Lower CD4 %
« Reply #4 on: January 21, 2014, 02:23:49 pm »
Well my doctor is unsure of the reason. I do not seem to have any other infection that I know off, I feel well. All other blood work is good. Perhaps I should have STI...

I was wondering if anyone was in same situation and what was the reason for decline in CD4 %.

Offline xinyuan

  • Member
  • Posts: 202
Re: Lower CD4 %
« Reply #5 on: January 21, 2014, 06:00:18 pm »
Looks like feelings on measuring CD4 too frequently have become mixed among doctors.

http://www.thebodypro.com/content/73445/cd4-cell-count-rejection-a-top-hiv-clinical-develo.html

So far, I've gleaned a few points reading about CD4's:

1) Getting your CD4 >300 is usually the main focus to reduce risk of opportunistics.

2) An increase in CD4 >100 on ART after 2-3 years is already very good, survival-wise. Regardless of starting CD4.

3) The mantra of higher CD4 and/or CD4/CD8 ratios comes from its association with elite controllers, long-term non-progressors, and studies on low reservoirs (more likely with undetectable VL, higher CD4 >500, and higher CD4/CD8 ratios).

Most of us would get to worry about point 3 only once we achieve undetectable status, first. The fact that the OP's absolute CD4 is trending up is reassuring. I'd look at trends over years, not so close together.

I definitely have higher CD4 counts on my wish list (like many here). However, I tend to side with those thinking "i'm already doing my part with meds, why worry over something i otherwise have no control over?"

I defer to the much older and wisened veterans of this board on CD4 monitoring.

@Since2005: Current consensus is to start ART's sooner to reduce reservoir. Those with baseline CD4's <500 have decreased overall survival. Why is your doc waiting?
« Last Edit: January 21, 2014, 06:12:25 pm by xinyuan »

Offline Since2005

  • Member
  • Posts: 434
Re: Lower CD4 %
« Reply #6 on: January 22, 2014, 12:43:05 am »

1) Getting your CD4 >300 is usually the main focus to reduce risk of opportunistics.
Where did you get that information?!? Most data shows it's fewer than 200. Please look at this article  -

http://aids.gov/hiv-aids-basics/staying-healthy-with-hiv-aids/potential-related-health-problems/opportunistic-infections/

Please do not provide data that you can not support or should I say please provide data with research link, etc. before you post anything out there not just ‘your understanding’. This can be very misleading to lots of newcomers

@Since2005: Current consensus is to start ART's sooner to reduce reservoir. Those with baseline CD4's <500 have decreased overall survival. Why is your doc waiting?

Few points here for you. Again, please provide information that you can back up with data.  First off, when do find out the ART is helpful to reduce reservoir for regular patient? Study had showed that though it worked for ‘some’ elite controller, for the majority of patients, it doesn't work.  Please see this article.
“Current antiretroviral medications for the treatment of HIV work by targeting the actively replicating form of HIV – but not this inactive form.” I personally would not care anything from “FOX News” but they were talking about a doctor for John Hopkins
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/10/24/major-setback-for-aids-cure-study-finds-reservoir-hidden-hiv-bigger-than-once/

The second part of your question: “Why doctor is waiting?” …. First of , he is not , he has recommended to consider meds and also to look at more lab results. Please emphasis the word “consider” and I am. I would wait couple of labs, see the trend if trend is downwards and nearing in 350 with a high viral load, then I would absolutely do that.  But to answer your question, why a doctor wouldn’t??  Do you know majority of doctors recommend starting meds at CD4 350 @ high viral load.

http://www.natap.org/2012/HIV/033012_01.htm

Please look at this article, it states that doctors recommend patient to start ‘considering’ meds when CD4>500 count. Please be mindful that this BIII meaning moderate recommendation with expert opinion (meaning not supporting data)

I just did not get your point, you did not know my lab history, you just knew my lab was above 460 with 8/9k viral load and you assumed its time for me to take meds and why a doctor would not ask. My lab history has always been ( well last couple of years that I know of) higher 450 to higher 550 and 2-9k viral load with CD4 percentage between 16 to 25. Since my last lab result has lower CD4 count (comparing to other lab results) and lower percentage, I am considering taking meds (and I have few in my mind)  after next “few” labs and if its continuously downwards and hit under 350 with high viral load and low percentage, then you got it, but other than that, its about monitoring the lab results, and watching out the trends. So, yes that is why I am not on meds if that makes sense by now.  All in all, there is not a set guidelines starting meds, it depends on other issues like age, pregnancy, and/or if someone has kidney, liver o any other issues etc. You just have to talk with doctor and figure that out.

Again, please look at this article about the CD4 count 350 for starting meds. 350 -500 to start 'considering' meds. Generally speaking that is the guidelines. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/487533_1

To OP, here is some information about CD4 percentage. http://aids.about.com/od/aidsfactsheets/a/cd4percent.htm

I am also wondering why (not how) CD4 percentage goes down, If anyone has any article to share about CD4 percentage and why it is an effective measurement tool of one’s immune health, we can learn and get benefit from knowing/reading about it.


« Last Edit: January 22, 2014, 12:52:29 am by Since2005 »

Offline EUINAU

  • Member
  • Posts: 71
  • New to This
Re: Lower CD4 %
« Reply #7 on: January 22, 2014, 12:29:56 pm »
Just to reconfirm few details:)

May 2013 seroconversion - started meds
I am undetectable since Sep 2013 and CD4 are trending upwards, CD4% trending downwards...

Offline leatherman

  • Global Moderator
  • Member
  • Posts: 8,593
  • Google and HIV meds are Your Friends
Re: Lower CD4 %
« Reply #8 on: January 22, 2014, 01:23:55 pm »
CD4 are trending upwards, CD4% trending downwards...
out of curiosity, over what sort of time period was this trending?

personally, I had hiv/aids for something like 20 yrs before I ever asked about my percentage. ;D I was dealing with all this back in the days when they wasn't even a viral load test, so not knowing a percentage wasn't that unusual. These days, I think, the percentage is still more of a diagnostic tool for an AIDS diagnosis than anything else. Maybe with being undetectable and having such a good cd4 count (double what I have :P LOL), you should just do what I and others do - ignore the percentage. ;) ;D
leatherman (aka Michael)

We were standing all alone
You were leaning in to speak to me
Acting like a mover shaker
Dancing to Madonna then you kissed me
And I think about it all the time
- Darren Hayes, "Chained to You"

Offline EUINAU

  • Member
  • Posts: 71
  • New to This
Re: Lower CD4 %
« Reply #9 on: January 22, 2014, 05:02:25 pm »
out of curiosity, over what sort of time period was this trending?

It's from my labs from July, October and January...

Offline eric48

  • Standard
  • Member
  • Posts: 1,361
Re: Lower CD4 %
« Reply #10 on: January 22, 2014, 05:20:26 pm »
For clarity in this thread:
EUINAU is ON meds
Since2005 is OFF meds

ON meds: percentage has little clinical relevance, but easier to follow since once CD4 is higher a minor change has a larger impact on numerical count, so at higher CD4 level the counts changes are such that if you would pay attention to that you'd get crazy (*)

OFF meds: percentage may have clinical relevance. Dr Galland, has posted once that if a patient was presenting with a  % below 14 , he would equate that with a patient presenting at CD4 count =200 (regardless of the actual count)

Of note: 16% is NOT 14%... Since there is a plateau between 20 and 14% and a cliff below 14... So 16 % is not a RED danger zone, but 14%, yes (again OFF meds)


(*) for example my CD4 went up +700 then down 400 and I pay no attention because always > 1000.

Back to the OP: if you admit that things can go UP, you have to admit also that sometimes they have to go down, otherwise, you would end up with CD4 = 10.000 ;-)

I would be happy to provide links to the relevance of % when OFF meds, but this is not the topic of this thread

Hope this helps

Eric
NVP/ABC/3TC/... UD ; CD4 > 900; CD4/CD8 ~ 1.5   stock : 6 months (2013: FOTO= 5d. ON 2d. OFF ; 2014: Clin. Trial NCT02157311 = 4days ON, 3days OFF ; 2015: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02157311 ; 2016: use of granted patent US9101633, 3 days ON, 4days OFF; 2017: added TDF, so NVP/TDF/ABC/3TC, once weekly

Offline xinyuan

  • Member
  • Posts: 202
Re: Lower CD4 %
« Reply #11 on: January 22, 2014, 06:07:24 pm »
Please do not provide data that you can not support or should I say please provide data with research link, etc. before you post anything out there not just ‘your understanding’. This can be very misleading to lots of newcomers

Few points here for you. Again, please provide information that you can back up with data.  First off, when do find out the ART is helpful to reduce reservoir for regular patient? ...

Very defensive. I merely asked out of your long-term well-being. No more. No less.

I never said that ART's reduce reservoir (although that would be nice, if proven). I said simply it has been associated. Higher CD4 count and higher CD4/CD8 ratios appear to be associated with lower reservoirs.

http://jac.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2013/10/31/jac.dkt428.long
http://www.natap.org/2013/IAS/IAS_35.htm

Association itself does not equate to causality. There is an entire list of criteria that must be met before such a claim can be made.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bradford_Hill_criteria

Quote
The second part of your question: “Why doctor is waiting?” …. First of , he is not , he has recommended to consider meds and also to look at more lab results. Please emphasis the word “consider” and I am. I would wait couple of labs, see the trend if trend is downwards and nearing in 350 with a high viral load, then I would absolutely do that.  But to answer your question, why a doctor wouldn’t??  Do you know majority of doctors recommend starting meds at CD4 350 @ high viral load.

I based my statement on the 500 cutoff from newer data as of 12/2013. Starting ART's above this cutoff has been associated with longer overall survival.

http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0081355

There are enough data accumulating that even baseline 350-500 have worse survival than >500. More and more data are accumulating on not waiting and starting therapies earlier. This study comes from NEJM, one of the most widely respected medical journals.

http://www.webmd.com/hiv-aids/news/20131030/early-hiv-treatment-a-win-win-researchers-report

A doctor once told a group of residents: "If you follow guidelines blindly, you're a bad doctor." He wrote the guidelines for his field.

Old guidelines don't include newer data that have accumulated since their publications. Guidelines get updated. The ones for HIV/AIDS are about due. I expect newer guidelines will begin to get more and more aggressive on when to start ART's.

Quote
Again, please look at this article about the CD4 count 350 for starting meds. 350 -500 to start 'considering' meds. Generally speaking that is the guidelines. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/487533_1

That's for opportunistic infections (OI). An old-fashioned way of approaching HIV. We're talking HIV as a chronic disease nowadays. Not simply succumbing to AIDS.

When I speak of survival, I'm talking any cause death, including cancers, heart attacks, strokes. Those are accelerated by inflammation, which HIV has been proven to cause.

Then, again. It's your body. Choose as you will.
« Last Edit: January 22, 2014, 06:18:04 pm by xinyuan »

Offline xinyuan

  • Member
  • Posts: 202
Re: Lower CD4 %
« Reply #12 on: January 22, 2014, 08:42:11 pm »
@Since2005:

I also want foremost to apologize for questioning your doctor.

Thank you for correcting me. Yes, you did state that your doctor was considering meds.

Offline Since2005

  • Member
  • Posts: 434
Re: Lower CD4 %
« Reply #13 on: January 23, 2014, 12:58:08 am »

So far, I've gleaned a few points reading about CD4's:
1) Getting your CD4 >300 is usually the main focus to reduce risk of opportunistics.

Very defensive. I merely asked out of your long-term well-being. No more. No less..

Yes you have!  200 is the number not 300.  You can just come and post numbers on people without backing up data just because you want one’s long term well-being. There are lots of new people come here and this is misrepresentation. That’s all I was pointing out!

I never said that ART's reduce reservoir (although that would be nice, if proven). I said simply it has been associated.

Yes you said to starting ART helps to reduce reservoir.
@Since2005: Current consensus is to start ART's sooner to reduce reservoir.

I can’t believe I had to re-publish this again. Please look at my link that I have posted about ART and reservoir issues.

@Xinyuan please understand you can’t just suggest someone something without knowing the background, history etc. Doctors are divided themselves when to start HAART. In Europe, its a standard practice to start meds @350 where in USA below 500 (consideration) below 350 (recommended). In New York, some doctor says to start right after the diagnosis. We can debate on ‘when to start meds’ just like as doctors themselves do. And trust me we have done that in this forum many many times. But, this is not the thread for it.

@Since2005:
Yes, you did state that your doctor was considering meds.

Again, about my doctor issue, depending on next lab results, (if my number goes up will not start meds and if my numbers continues to go down (along with the percentage), will start meds. Hope this clears it up.

@ OP sorry, if this thread got hijacked a bit. Back to declining percentage. It turns out that there may be a slightly difference on CD4 declining issues depending on if someone is on /off meds (I do not understand why though) but, let us get back to that focus.

Offline newt

  • Member
  • Posts: 3,900
  • the one and original newt
Re: Lower CD4 %
« Reply #14 on: January 23, 2014, 06:58:07 am »
EUINAU

If you want to read a good, longish paper on CD4 count and CD4% here is one by a reputable UK research team:

Does Discordancy Between the CD4 Count and CD4 Percentage in HIV-Positive Individuals Influence Outcomes on Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy?
http://jid.oxfordjournals.org/content/205/4/540.full

Conclusion: "despite finding some associations between CD4/CD4% discordancy and immunological and clinical response to HAART, these effects were, on the whole, relatively small, suggesting that it is sufficient to simply monitor (and act upon) the CD4 count when assessing patient prognosis"

CD4 count and CD4% will be out of sorts on/soon after seroconversion, so your downward trend in CD4% cannot be relied upon as accurate. Unless you have a pre-HIV baseline CD4 figs you cannot say what is normal for you. Your CD4 counts are all broadly speaking in the same range, and your CD4 counts within the expected range for your CD4 count (as per Figure 1 in the paper linked to above, in the Results section).

Before antiretrovirals, higher CD4 count and CD% are important, because they relate to the risk of opportunistic infections. On antiretrovirals, there really is no decent research to say a falling (or rising) CD4 count or CD4% matters that much provided it is over 200/16%. Other tests are likely to be more important. The system used in veteran healthcare for HIV monitoring includes CD4 count but not CD4% as one of several factors. You can read about them all here in this PDF:

http://www.vacohort.org/welcome/75_158724_VACS_Index_Handout_19Nov10.pdf

- matt
"The object is to be a well patient, not a good patient"

Offline EUINAU

  • Member
  • Posts: 71
  • New to This
Re: Lower CD4 %
« Reply #15 on: January 23, 2014, 12:54:19 pm »
Thanks everyone for your input. For now I am quite happy with my Cd4 trending upwards :)

Offline xinyuan

  • Member
  • Posts: 202
Re: Lower CD4 %
« Reply #16 on: January 23, 2014, 08:23:01 pm »
@Since2005

The CD4 count >300 was from thebodypro link I cited (http://www.thebodypro.com/content/73445/cd4-cell-count-rejection-a-top-hiv-clinical-develo.html). They were citing percentage of people dropping <200 subsequently and cost-effectiveness of CD4 testing in a VA study. Yes, an ID doctor on the web site.

The real answer for treating for CD4 >500 is being answered by an NIH study called the START study.

http://www.niaid.nih.gov/news/newsreleases/2011/pages/start.aspx

But the WHO, which previously cited a cutoff of <350 has already begun supporting >500.

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/who-says-drug-treatment-for-hiv-should-begin-earlier-8680010.html


Also, I was trying to be gracious in my apology.

Please read my previous posts. You will realize my background and expertise. I am forced to read studies and findings at a far different level than a lay person.

Telling me about these issues and debates among doctors. It's like an experienced armchair scientist explaining particle physics to a CERN physicist. Unless you're a physician yourself, don't generalize what I do and do not know.

I won't respond any further, since our exchanges are hijacking this thread.
« Last Edit: January 23, 2014, 08:48:47 pm by xinyuan »

Offline Since2005

  • Member
  • Posts: 434
Re: Lower CD4 %
« Reply #17 on: January 24, 2014, 03:35:10 am »
It looks like OP is okay with his quest.

So Here are my reasoning  -
\The real answer for treating for CD4 >500 is being answered by an NIH study called the START study.
http://www.niaid.nih.gov/news/newsreleases/2011/pages/start.aspx
Reading your own article that you have provided, here is what I have surmised:

·   “Not enough evidence to show starting HAART early benefits individual patients”
·   WHO changing the guidelines because it reduces the risk of transmission among others
·   “START (Strategic Timing of Antiretroviral Treatment) is still awaited

There is not enough evidence to show that starting HAART early helps a patients “Individually”.

We have to wait till START data comes out and see what's the results, until then please refrain from advising other to go on meds because you are a medical expert around the issue.

My greatest fear is some doctors put a patient in HAART because they think is it helps to reduce the risk of transmission plus patients do get better. They both are true but there are not enough evidences to show that Starting HAART early helps a patient individually. This is “still now just expert's opinion”.

Besides, going back and forth with your comments, I am finding contradictory comments (opportunistic infections, reservoir issues)

Since when did you find out about?  Starting  “ART's sooner to reduce reservoir” ???

I don't understand the mindset of ‘oh okay, you have got below 500 this time, and may be you should be on meds NOW. How about wait out and see ‘what the trends are’ specially when there are NO REAL evidences to show that starting HAART early is helpful for a patient.

When START results comes out, we can all put this to an end but till then we should not make a “clear" judgment call as to asking/advising others when to start meds based on one result set rather than looking at other important issues like trends, age, exponential viral load, kidney/liver issues etc. etc.




Offline Jeff G

  • Administrator
  • Member
  • Posts: 17,064
  • How am I doing Beren ?
Re: Lower CD4 %
« Reply #18 on: January 24, 2014, 08:52:31 am »
It looks like OP is okay with his quest.

So Here are my reasoning  - Reading your own article that you have provided, here is what I have surmised:

·   “Not enough evidence to show starting HAART early benefits individual patients”
·   WHO changing the guidelines because it reduces the risk of transmission among others
·   “START (Strategic Timing of Antiretroviral Treatment) is still awaited

There is not enough evidence to show that starting HAART early helps a patients “Individually”.

We have to wait till START data comes out and see what's the results, until then please refrain from advising other to go on meds because you are a medical expert around the issue.

My greatest fear is some doctors put a patient in HAART because they think is it helps to reduce the risk of transmission plus patients do get better. They both are true but there are not enough evidences to show that Starting HAART early helps a patient individually. This is “still now just expert's opinion”.

Besides, going back and forth with your comments, I am finding contradictory comments (opportunistic infections, reservoir issues)

Since when did you find out about?  Starting  “ART's sooner to reduce reservoir” ???

I don't understand the mindset of ‘oh okay, you have got below 500 this time, and may be you should be on meds NOW. How about wait out and see ‘what the trends are’ specially when there are NO REAL evidences to show that starting HAART early is helpful for a patient.

When START results comes out, we can all put this to an end but till then we should not make a “clear" judgment call as to asking/advising others when to start meds based on one result set rather than looking at other important issues like trends, age, exponential viral load, kidney/liver issues etc. etc.





Enough of trying to tell members what their opinion should be . You are hijacking this thread simply to offer opinions and that is exactly what you are calling other members out for so you are not making much sense here, so please refrain from posting in this thread from now own . Thanks . 
HIV 101 - Basics
HIV 101
You can read more about Transmission and Risks here:
HIV Transmission and Risks
You can read more about Testing here:
HIV Testing
You can read more about Treatment-as-Prevention (TasP) here:
HIV TasP
You can read more about HIV prevention here:
HIV prevention
You can read more about PEP and PrEP here
PEP and PrEP

Offline epylon

  • Member
  • Posts: 3
Re: Lower CD4 %
« Reply #19 on: February 06, 2014, 07:47:32 am »
Well guys, Im totally confused about my yesterday labs, my CD4 number increased very well (516 now), but % looks like collapsed: 8%. Okey Im really ill in the last 1,5 week (fever, low fever) and I took antibiotics. The ambulance said keep calm and be back to the next lab 4 June. But I am a bit nervous...
I take medicines since July 2013 (Epivir, Edurant, Viread)

Offline xasxas

  • Member
  • Posts: 57
Re: Lower CD4 %
« Reply #20 on: February 07, 2014, 09:42:13 am »
To epylon:

My experience has been that when I get sick, my CD4% drops.

The test before last, my CD4% dropped 5% as I picked up an infection -- my absolute CD4 barely budged.  My last test my CD4% had rebounded back up 4%.

The important thing is to just get yourself checked out and treated for whatever your non-HIV infection is.  Then just take your meds and give yourself time to heal.

Offline countrymanPete

  • Member
  • Posts: 13
  • Just your average Joe
Re: Lower CD4 %
« Reply #21 on: February 09, 2014, 01:04:14 am »
      I am also confused with things like my results, which at face value should mean I'm doing well, CD4 1152, 38% VL undetectable, should mean everything is a ok, but got severe illness before Xmas and another change of meds and 6 weeks in Hosp.  I have a list of health issues a mile long, some related some unrelated.  I feel like shit most of the time, and have got uncontrollable bowels, on and off since starting Meds.  Coincidently I had to start ARTs because at the time I was in Hosp with DVT, (11month stay) my CD4 was 109, 7%, and VL above 1 million.   I wish i understood what it all means, because it seams to be different for everybody.  My results should be great, but I have major issues going on too.
Everything should work like a well oiled ship

The titanic was a well oiled ship.

 


Terms of Membership for these forums
 

© 2024 Smart + Strong. All Rights Reserved.   terms of use and your privacy
Smart + Strong® is a registered trademark of CDM Publishing, LLC.