GHT Homepage News Yearly Check-Ups for Some?

Yearly Check-Ups for Some?
8th May 2008

big international study suggests CD4 monitoring may only be needed once a year for people with an undetectable vital load and CD4 count over 350

Two key blood tests – a CD4 cell count and a measure of viral load - are used to monitor how HIV is affecting your body. The CD4 cell count looks at the number of key CD4 immune system cells in the blood. These cells are attacked by HIV and as your CD4 cell count falls, your immune system weakens and is unable to fight off infections.

Anti-HIV treatment lowers the amount of HIV in the blood and allows the CD4 cell count to increase. Your CD4 cell count and viral load should be monitored every time you go to your HIV clinic for a checkup.

But results from a big international study suggest that people who are doing well on anti-HIV treatment may only need to have their CD4 cell count checked once a year.

The study found that people with an undetectable viral load and a CD4 cell count above 350 are very unlikely to experience falls in their CD4 cell count, and if such falls happen, they don’t last for long.

This could mean less frequent visits to the HIV clinic, saving the patient’s time and the clinic’s money.

source
http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/6D591729-D9A8-48C1-BEE1-58EBFF6A83D4.asp