How does HIV damage the immune system?

[Guest guest]

Hi, sorry if this is a dumb question.

How does HIV damage ones immune system?

Let's say someone has a CD4 of 175 and a viral load of 90,000 and a

CD4% of 11. Has their immune system been permanently damaged?

If the HAART meds get all the above numbers back to normal levels then

has there really been any damage to ones immune system?

Thank You.

J.T.

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Our immune system is in a constant 'battle', one side there are our 'soldiers' the CD4, CD8 and on the other side there are the 'invaders' - HIV. The HIV comes to our body using CD4 'doors', damaging them -that's why CD4 get lower. The viral load is the activity of virus itself, the reproduction.

It's important to consider the CD4 but there's another important data to consider - the relation between CD4 and CD8.

Drugs help the reconstitution of our immune system.

This is a very easy way to put things. The best is to do your own research. there are good sites:

http://natap.org/

http://www.aidsmap.com/cms1000231.asp

http://www.thebodypro.com/

All the best

ziggy

How does HIV damage the immune system?

Hi, sorry if this is a dumb question.How does HIV damage ones immune system?Let's say someone has a CD4 of 175 and a viral load of 90,000 and a CD4% of 11. Has their immune system been permanently damaged?If the HAART meds get all the above numbers back to normal levels then has there really been any damage to ones immune system?Thank You.J.T.

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[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Our immune system is in a constant 'battle', one side there are our 'soldiers' the CD4, CD8 and on the other side there are the 'invaders' - HIV. The HIV comes to our body using CD4 'doors', damaging them -that's why CD4 get lower. The viral load is the activity of virus itself, the reproduction.

It's important to consider the CD4 but there's another important data to consider - the relation between CD4 and CD8.

Drugs help the reconstitution of our immune system.

This is a very easy way to put things. The best is to do your own research. there are good sites:

http://natap.org/

http://www.aidsmap.com/cms1000231.asp

http://www.thebodypro.com/

All the best

ziggy

How does HIV damage the immune system?

Hi, sorry if this is a dumb question.How does HIV damage ones immune system?Let's say someone has a CD4 of 175 and a viral load of 90,000 and a CD4% of 11. Has their immune system been permanently damaged?If the HAART meds get all the above numbers back to normal levels then has there really been any damage to ones immune system?Thank You.J.T.

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[Guest guest]

"How does HIV damage ones immune system?Let's say someone has a CD4 of 175 and a viral load of 90,000 and a CD4% of 11. Has their immune system been permanently damaged?If the HAART meds get all the above numbers back to normal levels then has there really been any damage to ones immune system?"There are still many questions about exactly how HIV damages the immune system, but not much debate that it does. Sort of like gravity, pretty clear dishes fall in the kitchen, but not too clear why.It seems that with the kind of CD 4 counts you are describing, there has been some damage to the immune system, and some of this damage may indeed be permanent. Even though CD4 numbers may return to normal, some measurements of immune response show that things are not quite what they were at "baseline." That's what makes the "when to start" topic so tough.....starting earlier preserves more of the immune system, but starting later reduces exposure to medications.Starting HAART at 350 - 300 CD4 cells, per current recommendations, is hoped to strike the best balance, and as mediations improve, and side effects are less terrible, further upward adjustments will certainly follow.JB

[Guest guest]

"How does HIV damage ones immune system?Let's say someone has a CD4 of 175 and a viral load of 90,000 and a CD4% of 11. Has their immune system been permanently damaged?If the HAART meds get all the above numbers back to normal levels then has there really been any damage to ones immune system?"There are still many questions about exactly how HIV damages the immune system, but not much debate that it does. Sort of like gravity, pretty clear dishes fall in the kitchen, but not too clear why.It seems that with the kind of CD 4 counts you are describing, there has been some damage to the immune system, and some of this damage may indeed be permanent. Even though CD4 numbers may return to normal, some measurements of immune response show that things are not quite what they were at "baseline." That's what makes the "when to start" topic so tough.....starting earlier preserves more of the immune system, but starting later reduces exposure to medications.Starting HAART at 350 - 300 CD4 cells, per current recommendations, is hoped to strike the best balance, and as mediations improve, and side effects are less terrible, further upward adjustments will certainly follow.JB