Up and down

[notaswede]

Hello,

i need to make sense of my numbers. I tested positive in January (probably with a recent infection) and had my first viral load and CD4 done in April (on advice of my doctor, as i was on PEP when i tested positive - infection was discovered during the routine HIV test at the start of the PEP).

These are my numbers so far:

04/13 CD4 320, CD4% 33, CD4/CD8 0.7 VL 73246
07/13 Started Atripla
08/13 CD4 410, CD4% 39, CD4/CD8 0.9 VL 146
10/13 CD4 300, CD4% 39, CD4/CD8 1.0 VL 47

I understand that CD4s can fluctuate by a lot during a day and that all other numbers indicate a reasonably healthy immune system, but i still would like to know if anyone else has had a similar experience (high percentage, low absolute CD4 hovering around 300-400?) and if it has any significance?

I'm not overly concerned, but i hate to imagine hovering around 300-400 CD4s for the rest of my life :-)

Thank you

Notaswede

[YellowFever]

I'm on the other end of CD4 discordance so I have been looking around the internet for explanations.

Have you been checked for any chronic liver-related illnesses?
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22460964

Otherwise, I don't think there's any reason to believe your CD4 levels will remain that way forever. That said: Some people are born with naturally low CD4 numbers.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC440627/

[Joe K]

Hey Notaswede,

You numbers look very good, especially for someone newly infected and I would not worry too much about how they change, as it can take a while for you body to adjust to the ARVs.  Your numbers are all moving in the right direction and it's not unusual for CD4s to drop, while getting your VL under control.

I will also suggest that you stop looking to compare your results, with those of anyone else, simply because they are not you.  I've been poz for 30 years and for about 15 years, my CD4s never got above 200, and I'm still here.  My point is that your numbers should be just one indicator of your health and hopefully you will learn, not to sweat them too much, especially when they are headed in the right directions.

Joe