question

[agirl]

ok I know im sopose to ask the doc this but I never think about it till its to late. so by bf has Aids not HIv his cd4 count is 240. what is the hightest it can get when u have Aids or does that as good as it gets oh at one time it was 9 so he is doing really good. sorry if this is a dumb question im just a confused girl.

[heretolearn]

Below 200 or HIV with OIs or AIDS defining illnesses is AIDS but the doctor told me that once you have AIDS that even after your cd4 count goes back up or those illnesses get better you still keep the "AIDS" diagnosis for whatever reason.

[Ptrk3]

agirl:  I have moved your "question" to the "Someone I Care About Has HIV" part of the forum, since you do not indicate that you have HIV, but do indicate that your boyfriend does.

In answer to your question:  In the United States, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) defines "aids" as having a CD4 count below 200 and/or having one or more aids-defining opportunistic infections.  Once you are defined as having aids, the CDC will always identify you as having aids, no matter how much your CD4 count rises.  If someone has a CD4 count of 199, the CDC will consider that person as having aids.  If someone has a CD4 count of 500, but has an aids-defining illness, the CDC will consider that person as having aids.

Presuming your boyfriend is living in the United States, and he once had a CD4 count of 9, he has likely already been reported (by his treating physician), as required by public-health law, to the CDC as having aids (the CDC does this for surveillance purposes, in order to allocate human and financial resources to priority areas where, for instance, there may be aids "clusters").

It is great that your boyfriend now has a CD4 count of 240, since that puts him above the threshold of a 200 CD4 count, below which opportunistic infections are more likely to occur.  But the CDC will continue to identify your boyfriend as having aids until such time, if ever, it changes the definition.

There is no limit to how high his CD4's may further rise, but how high it rises often depends on how long your boyfriend has been infected with the HIV and how much permanent damage may have already been done to his immune system. But it is quite possible that your boyfriend's CD4 count will rise several hundred more.

People who are not infected with the HIV have a broad range of CD4 counts, say 400 to above 1,000.  It is important to note that it is not just the quantity of CD4 cells that contribute to a healthy immune system, but also the quality.  Someone with a CD4 count of 400 may have a "stronger" immune system that someone with a higher count.

At this point, it is more important that your boyfriend maintain an "undetectable" viral load of the HIV and adhere to taking his anti-retroviral medication as prescribed.  As his viral load continues to be "undetectable," his immune system will recover and, in turn, his CD4's continue to rise.  Don't overly concern yourself with his CD4 count.

If your boyfriend is not living in the United States, the definition of "aids" may be different.  You would need to check with your national health service for its definition.

I wish your boyfriend continued good health.  Good luck to you both.

[agirl]

yes we live in The USA thanks for your help I never rember to ask questions while we are at the docs I get very intimidated and my mind just goes blank.

[Ptrk3]

You're most welcome

[leatherman]

I never rember to ask questions while we are at the docs I get very intimidated and my mind just goes blank.

don't feel bad! that happens to all of us!  lol Just today, I went to a new doctor and had my list all ready to go over. I would have forgotten so many things without that list! Especially when I often go so many months between doctor visits.  A list not only is necessary; but it shows your doctor that you're concerned and often a doctor will be more likely to be of more help because you're trying to help yourself (or the patient you're helping out). So that list now for the next visit