STI

97

97

97. That’s my latest CD4+ count, less than half the count from six weeks ago.

That’s it. I have tried as many alternative treatments as I can think of to reverse the decline. I will be starting my third round of pharmaceutical ARVs as soon as I can get a prescription and fill it.

This decision has been a long time coming, and in hindsight, I probably should have restarted a few months ago. There’s nothing magical about 97, or being below 100, but it’s as good a breaking point as any. I’ve long argued that there are two things to keep in mind about CD4 counts: one is the long-term trend; the other is single- or low double-digit counts.

LOTTI: Take a vacation from AIDS drugs

LOTTI: Take a vacation from AIDS drugs

The LOTTI study, based in Italy, found that patients taking highly active anti-retroviral treatment (HAART) for HIV/AIDS who took a “vacation” from drug treatment fared as well as those who remained on their drugs continuously.
This study offers a desperately needed offer of hope for those in treatment who cannot tolerate the AIDS drugs’ toxicity, or who want to avoid know side effects such as disfigurement and organ failure.