Just because your CD4 is over 500 does NOT mean you're healthy!

[Guest guest]

I would argue that a healthy immune system is NOT just a CD4 count

that is over 500. I guarantee you that I'm healthier with a CD4

count under 200 than someone that is 200lbs. overweight

with a CD4 count over 500. Someone that is 200lbs. overweight is

NOT healthy.

I would also argue that CD4 cells are not the only white blood cells

that contribute to a healthy immune system.

Does HIV usually cause the White Blood Cell count to

be below normal? What about the Lymphocytes and

Neutrophils percentage? In fact, Neutrophils are the

first immune cells to arrive at a site of infection,

through a process known as chemotaxis. With a

half-life of four to ten hours when not activated and

immediate death upon ingesting a pathogen, they are

plentiful and responsible for the bulk of an immune

response.

It would seem that since Lymphocytes and Neutrophils

are a type of white blood cell they would be very

important in one's health and ability to fight

disease. If these are in fact in normal ranges and if

the White Blood Cell count is in normal range, how

much do these things trump the CD4 cell count? Also, I

didn't mention the other white blood cells, Monocyte,

Eosinophil, Basophil.

J.T.