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What Do These HIV Test Results Indicate?
Question: HI DOCTOR,
My mother got HIV Infected in 1989 due to infected blood transmission after delivery during time of birth of my younger brother & sister. She was diagnosed in 1989. In 1997 she had various health issues & again HIV test was done & CD4 Count was around 400 & viral load undetectable. In 2015 she again got health issues & again we got her tested. Results of subsequent tests are
CD4 Count CD4%
19.09.15 99 16.79%
29.01.16 199 24.33%
13.12.16 171 21.44%
28.07.17 112 23.30%
She started treatment in September 2015 but she does not take medicines regularly. Doctor used to give her some immunity injection every 15 days. In May 2017 her doctor expired & injections were not given as doctor only knew the name & his clinic got almost closed. Moreover she did not took medicines at all in last 20 days due to unavailability of same.
So now CD4 count is 112 but CD4 % has increased from last time. My GP has already told to take medicines of HIV. We will get those in next 2 days. In meantime my GP has prescribed DS Septra. This was given to her in September 2015 when she was ill & CD4 was 99.
CD4 Count of 112. Is it need to worry & to take some action?
However CD4% has increased. Which one is more reliable CD4 Count or CD4%.
My mother got HIV Infected in 1989 due to infected blood transmission after delivery during time of birth of my younger brother & sister. She was diagnosed in 1989. In 1997 she had various health issues & again HIV test was done & CD4 Count was around 400 & viral load undetectable. In 2015 she again got health issues & again we got her tested. Results of subsequent tests are
CD4 Count CD4%
19.09.15 99 16.79%
29.01.16 199 24.33%
13.12.16 171 21.44%
28.07.17 112 23.30%
She started treatment in September 2015 but she does not take medicines regularly. Doctor used to give her some immunity injection every 15 days. In May 2017 her doctor expired & injections were not given as doctor only knew the name & his clinic got almost closed. Moreover she did not took medicines at all in last 20 days due to unavailability of same.
So now CD4 count is 112 but CD4 % has increased from last time. My GP has already told to take medicines of HIV. We will get those in next 2 days. In meantime my GP has prescribed DS Septra. This was given to her in September 2015 when she was ill & CD4 was 99.
CD4 Count of 112. Is it need to worry & to take some action?
However CD4% has increased. Which one is more reliable CD4 Count or CD4%.
Brief Answer:
Management of HIV disease is not easy, consult an expert and get her well
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Welcome to HCM.
Thanks for posting your query.
First of all, try to find an expert in HIV management or follow the treatment in a Government ART center. Follow their advice strictly.
Treatment adherence is very important. Otherwise drugs will become resistant and we will loose good and comparatively cheaper drugs.
A GP cannot treat a HIV infection.
She cannot continue the same drugs. We have to select a different combination as per sensitivity test or after analyze the previous drugs she was on.
CD4 count 112 is not adequate. It should be more than 350-500 and above.
Increase in the percentage of CD4 is due to the fall in either total WBC count or absolute lymphocyte count.
So consult an expert and get her well soon.
Dr S Murugan
Management of HIV disease is not easy, consult an expert and get her well
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Welcome to HCM.
Thanks for posting your query.
First of all, try to find an expert in HIV management or follow the treatment in a Government ART center. Follow their advice strictly.
Treatment adherence is very important. Otherwise drugs will become resistant and we will loose good and comparatively cheaper drugs.
A GP cannot treat a HIV infection.
She cannot continue the same drugs. We have to select a different combination as per sensitivity test or after analyze the previous drugs she was on.
CD4 count 112 is not adequate. It should be more than 350-500 and above.
Increase in the percentage of CD4 is due to the fall in either total WBC count or absolute lymphocyte count.
So consult an expert and get her well soon.
Dr S Murugan
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Hello Sir,
Thanks for your prompt reply. Another doctor who is HIV specialist has came in previous Doctor's place. She visited her last week & doctor advised same treatment which was given by previous HIV specialist.
Her WBC Count is 3700.
She is being given Ritomune + Lamivir + Lavpila + Novosule Gold + Septra DS.
Are these medicines Correct?
Moreover medicines are not available with supplier at present. He told us that there is some shortage due to GST & those will be available in 2 or 3 days time.
I am bit worried that when she will start treatment it will take some times for medicines to do their work. In the meantime suppose in next 15 days if there is some illness or some other health problem occurs than it will be problem for us.
She had big health problems in September 2015. She was unable to walk even at that time.
So sir is there any medicine to prevent opportunistic infections as CD4 count is down?
Please help sir.
Thanks for your prompt reply. Another doctor who is HIV specialist has came in previous Doctor's place. She visited her last week & doctor advised same treatment which was given by previous HIV specialist.
Her WBC Count is 3700.
She is being given Ritomune + Lamivir + Lavpila + Novosule Gold + Septra DS.
Are these medicines Correct?
Moreover medicines are not available with supplier at present. He told us that there is some shortage due to GST & those will be available in 2 or 3 days time.
I am bit worried that when she will start treatment it will take some times for medicines to do their work. In the meantime suppose in next 15 days if there is some illness or some other health problem occurs than it will be problem for us.
She had big health problems in September 2015. She was unable to walk even at that time.
So sir is there any medicine to prevent opportunistic infections as CD4 count is down?
Please help sir.
Brief Answer:
Drug adherence is very important.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.
I know Ritoimmune, Lamivir. But I don't have any idea about Lavpilla. The other capsule is a supplementary drug only. Septra DS can offer a degree of protection from many opportunistic infections.
When her CD4 count is declining, I would not prefer her to continue the same drugs.
Lack of availability of drugs is not an excuse for not taking the drugs. Nearly five companies are there in the ART drug market. You could get any one of these stockists or representatives of the manufacturers. You must have adequate stock in your hands expecting such situations.
Dr S Murugan
Drug adherence is very important.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.
I know Ritoimmune, Lamivir. But I don't have any idea about Lavpilla. The other capsule is a supplementary drug only. Septra DS can offer a degree of protection from many opportunistic infections.
When her CD4 count is declining, I would not prefer her to continue the same drugs.
Lack of availability of drugs is not an excuse for not taking the drugs. Nearly five companies are there in the ART drug market. You could get any one of these stockists or representatives of the manufacturers. You must have adequate stock in your hands expecting such situations.
Dr S Murugan
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
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