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How Does HIV Affect CD4 T Cells?
Question: Hello Dr, my sister's husband is HIV+ and not on medication but his consecutive CD4 count in four months gap is 335 and 332 respectively but his CD4 percentage is rapidly falling from 19.7 to 16.6.Shall we look absolute CD4 count or CD4 percentage we are confused. He is so healthy. Thank you.
Brief Answer:
CD 4 percentage has more value. Start ART immediately.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome to HCM.
Thanks for posting your query.
Looking healthy or feeling well are not the criteria for remaining away from ART. Moreover many experts see that the percentage of CD4 count is more important than the count as it is. Now the guide lines say that all people with HIV positive immaterial of the CD4 count is to be treated with HAART and especially when it goes below 500 cells/cu.mm. When there is virus inside our body why to wait for the immunity to go to a bad shape. Earlier the treatment keeps the function of immune system well within normal limits, otherwise the immune recovery would not be so satisfactory as normal. Moreover changes in every system of the body as a response to the presence of virus inside the body leads to irreparable changes. So not to wait for further fall in CD4 count, start him on ART to remain well and to have a normal longevity of life span.
Dr S.Murugan
CD 4 percentage has more value. Start ART immediately.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome to HCM.
Thanks for posting your query.
Looking healthy or feeling well are not the criteria for remaining away from ART. Moreover many experts see that the percentage of CD4 count is more important than the count as it is. Now the guide lines say that all people with HIV positive immaterial of the CD4 count is to be treated with HAART and especially when it goes below 500 cells/cu.mm. When there is virus inside our body why to wait for the immunity to go to a bad shape. Earlier the treatment keeps the function of immune system well within normal limits, otherwise the immune recovery would not be so satisfactory as normal. Moreover changes in every system of the body as a response to the presence of virus inside the body leads to irreparable changes. So not to wait for further fall in CD4 count, start him on ART to remain well and to have a normal longevity of life span.
Dr S.Murugan
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for the answer but I was asking this question to get the details just from experience because those threshold numbers I can get from first page of google search.
Brief Answer:
Your sister's husband needs to be started ART
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.
CD4 percentage below 25% needs to be started on ART. But the present strategy is '' Test all, treat all " So better ask your sister 's husband to initiate the ART as soon as possible.
Dr S Murugan
Your sister's husband needs to be started ART
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.
CD4 percentage below 25% needs to be started on ART. But the present strategy is '' Test all, treat all " So better ask your sister 's husband to initiate the ART as soon as possible.
Dr S Murugan
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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