What Other Tests Might I Have Along With This Test?
Your healthcare provider may also order other tests to help diagnose HIV. These include: 1. HIV test 2. Complete blood count
What Do My Test Results Mean?
Test results may vary depending on your age, gender, health history, the method used for the test, and other things. Your test results may not mean...
Does This Test Pose Any Risks?
Having a blood test with a needle carries some risks. These include bleeding, infection, bruising, and feeling lightheaded. When the needle pricks...
What Might Affect My Test Results?
Pregnancy can affect your results. Women with HIV may have higher levels of white blood cells, which affects the proportion of CD4 cells. Drinking...
How Do I Get Ready For This Test?
You don't need to prepare for this test. But tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant, are a heavy alcohol user, or are taking medicines t...
What happens to CD8 cells in HIV?
During HIV disease progression, CD8 + T cells also undergo alterations that reflect a skewing within the CD8 + T-cell compartment. Increased frequencies of CD8 + T cells with reduced expression of CD28 and increased expression of CD57 are observed in HIV disease, possibly reflecting expansion of immunosenescent cells that normally occurs in the elderly. 197 Data from numerous studies have suggested that impaired HIV-specific CD8 + T-cell activity in HIV-viremic individuals is at least in part associated with a skewed effector memory CD8 + T-cell population that displays low polyfunctionality, proliferative capacity, and effector function. 163,198 Furthermore, HIV-induced T-cell exhaustion, which includes upregulation of the inhibitory receptors, including PD-1 and Tim-3 among others, has been described both for HIV-specific CD8 + T cells and in the general CD8 + T-cell population. 169 However, the precise role of PD-1 in cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses is not clear, although there is consensus agreement that its expression is detrimental to function. 163 Other CD8 + T-cell functions may be impaired during HIV disease progression, such as loss of noncytolytic, non–MHC-restricted CD8 + T-cell–derived HIV suppression. 199
What is the effect of Alemtuzumab on NK cells?
It lyses these cell populations and results in profound and sustained deficits in cellular and humoral immunity that lasts for several months; CD4 and CD8 cell count reach their nadir approximately 4 weeks after treatment, but median counts remain at <25% of baseline for approximately 9 months. 38 Opportunistic and nonopportunistic infections have been associated with its use, particularly reactivation of herpes virus ( e.g., Epstein-Barr virus [EBV], CMV, disseminated VZV) and fungal infections ( e.g., PJP, invasive molds, and dimorphic fungi). Moreover, several cases of TB and NTM infection have been reported. The incidence of these OIs varies with the administered dose and whether it is used as a single agent or in combination with other immunosuppressants ( e.g., induction therapy [4.5%] versus treatment for rejection [21%] in SOT). 37,38 When used for T-cell depletion in allogeneic HSCT (allo-HSCT) it has been associated with a very high risk of CMV reactivation (50–85%) and disease, severe adenovirus infection, human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) encephalitis, respiratory viral infections that frequently progress to pneumonia, and PTLD. Other infections that have occurred are overwhelming bacteremia, bacterial meningitis, toxoplasmosis, PML, disseminated amoebiasis, parvovirus infection, and nocardiosis. All patients receiving alemtuzumab should receive PJP and herpesvirus prophylaxis for a minimum of 2 months after therapy or until CD4 counts are ≥200 cells/µL (Campath package insert). Given the high incidence of CMV reactivation and disease, prophylaxis or preemptive therapy is warranted.
Is HIV antibody absent in infants?
HIV antibody is absent in the 5% of HIV-infected infants who present with primary hypogammaglobulinaemia, and in these infants confirmation of infection requires virus isolation, antibody testing of the mother, or identification or viral components, e.g. p24 antigen, or direct virus isolation. View chapter Purchase book.
Is hypergammaglobulinaemia a sign of HIV?
Hypergammaglobulinaemia is almost uniform, affecting all major classes, and can be an earlier indicator of HIV infection than lymphocyte changes. Total IgG levels in excess of 30g/l are not unusual but may be associated with IgG subclass deficiency or more widespread evidence of functional antibody deficiency in many cases.
Question
Hello, I just started meds a month ago, my viral load dropped to 900 and I got the below lab result. I understand that a CD 4 count of 780 is good, but the lab flagged it as L for low and CD8 count as H for high. What is the significance of a high CD8 count and the ratio? Thanks
Answer
In general, a person without HIV infection has about the same number of CD4 cells and CD8 cells. When someone becomes HIV infected, the virus infects the CD4 cells which leads to a decline in CD4 count, and as a reaction to infection, the CD8 count increases. Both of these events lead to a decrease in the CD4/CD8 cell ratio.
What does it mean if cd8 suppressor t cells are low?
Weakness in defense: T cells help regulate the t cells and are the main reason people don't develop autoimmune diseases. T cells, if left unchecked, would attack the individual's own body .There are two main types of t cells, CD4 and cd8. Cd8 t cells are also known as killer t cells. Though this name sounds threatening, these are very important in preventing illness. These cd8 t cells kill kill infected and damaged c.
Is interpretation of laboratory tests always done in the context of the symptoms?
It depends: The interpretation of laboratory tests is always done in the context of the symptoms, and why the test was ordered in the first place. The only place to address a question like this is with the physician who ordered the test, not the internet.
What is the normal CD4/CD8 ratio?
A normal CD4/CD8 ratio is greater than 1.0 , with CD4 lymphocytes ranging from 500 to 1200/mm 3 and CD8 lymphocytes ranging from 150 to 1000/mm 3.
What does it mean if you have a lack of CD4 cells?
A lack of CD4 cells usually leads to more frequent infections. This test looks at the ratio of CD4 cells to CD8 cells. The ratio tells your healthcare provider how strong your immune system is and helps predict how likely you are to develop an infection.
What might affect my test results?
Pregnancy can affect your results. Women with HIV may have higher levels of white blood cells, which affects the proportion of CD4 cells. Drinking too much alcohol can also affect your results. Certain medicines such as corticosteroids can affect your results.
What does CD4 do to HIV?
CD4 cells lead the fight against infections. CD8 cells can kill cancer cells and other invaders. If you have HIV, your CD4 cell count may be low. Without HIV treatment, your number of CD4 cells will likely keep falling. A lack of CD4 cells usually leads to more frequent infections. This test looks at the ratio of CD4 cells to CD8 cells.
What does it mean when your blood test results vary?
Test results may vary depending on your age, gender, health history, the method used for the test, and other things. Your test results may not mean you have a problem. Ask your healthcare provider what your test results mean for you.
What is the normal CD4/CD8 ratio?
A CD4/CD8 ratio is considered normal when the value is between 1.0 and 4.0. In a healthy individual, that translates to roughly 30 to 60 percent CD4 T-cells in relationship to 10 to 30 percent CD8 T-cells.
Why are CD4 T cells considered helpers?
CD4 T-cells are considered "helpers" because they instigate the immune response. Suppressor T-cells are responsible for turning off the immune response when a threat has been neutralized. Memory T-cells remain on sentinel once a threat has been neutralized and "sound off the alarm" if the threat ever returns.
How much does HIV drop in T cells?
However, when a person is first infected with HIV, there is generally a 30 percent drop in the number of CD4 T-cells as HIV targets these cells and depletes their numbers. 1 By contrast, CD8 T-cells will generally increase by about 40 percent, although their ability to neutralize the virus will wane over time as there are simply fewer CD4 T-cells to trigger an effective response.
How do CD4 T cells work?
CD4 T-cells work by triggering an immune response when faced with a pathogen. CD8 T-cells respond by attacking the tagged pathogen and neutralizing it. Suppressor T-cells then "turn off" CD4 activity when a sufficient immune response has been achieved.
Can CD4 count predict seroconversion?
Similarly, research has shown that a low CD4/CD8 count in babies born to HIV-positive mothers can be used to predict whether that baby will seroconvert (become HIV-positive too). 5 The likelihood of this increases dramatically when the ratio falls below 1.0. This may be especially relevant in developing countries where the rate of mother-to-child transmissions has dropped but the number of postnatal seroconversions remains high.
Is CD4/CD8 predictive?
The prognostic (predictive) value of CD4/CD8 is considered less relevant to the management of HIV than it was 20 years ago when there were fewer, less effective drugs available to treat HIV. While the value can still help us determine the age of the infection and your risk of mortality, greater emphasis has been placed in recent years on sustaining viral control (as measured by an undetectable viral load ). 2 Doing so helps slow disease progression and avoid the development of drug resistance .
Is CD4 monitoring optional?
CD4 monitoring may be considered optional for those with CD4 counts over 500.
