Important parameters
Regular monitoring of CD4+ cell count and the viral load are important factors in treatment of HIV. Only by monitoring symptoms and treatment effects can clinicians advise on the best time to start treatment and the best treatment options to meet specific individual life style and health needs.
Viral load: The viral load is the amount of HIV in the blood. Regular monitoring of the amount of HIV present in the blood (viral load) is an important factor in the treatment of HIV. Monitoring viral load informs the treatment path, i.e. levels of viral load determine when to start antiretroviral drug therapy or how well a certain therapy is working. The viral load measurement can help to estimate how rapidly the CD4+ cell count is likely to drop in the future. Comparing the monitored values with a "typical" clinical course of infection makes it easier to pinpoint the right time for antiretroviral treatment to begin. Additionally, monitoring values during treatment supports treatment decisions.
CD4+ cell count: The viral load is directly correlated to the CD4+ cell count. In general a high viral load leads to a decreasing CD4+ cell count and a weakened immune system. Therefore, regular monitoring is important to react in time. CD4+ count is a marker for the status of the immune system. The CD4+ count plays a role in choosing a therapy and evaluating different treatment options for HIV-infected people. Antiretroviral drug treatment is taken to reduce the viral load which results in an increase of the CD4+ cell count.
An "undetectable" viral load does not mean the virus has disappeared from the body. It means that levels are below the sensitivity of a viral load test and this is an important treatment goal for all patients. Risk of transmission of the virus is reduced, but it is still possible.
Additional markers: Viral load and CD4+ cell count are the most important markers used to monitor HIV. Additional markers you may also hear are:
- Immunological markers - such as CD8+ cell count
- Virological markers - such as HIV phenotype and genotype
- Clinical markers - such as loss of weight, fever, swollen lymphnodes etc.
