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Index 
1.5 The immune system works 
1.6 HIV and the immune system 
1.7 CD4: surrogate marker
Glossary 
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abnormal different from normal. When normal means usual, abnormal means unusual. When normal means an average, abnormal means a change from the average, however slight.
ARV anti-retroviral (drug to treat HIV infection).
CD4 cell white blood cell (lymphocyte) in your immune system that signals to other white blood cells to destroy a virus. CD4 cells are also used by HIV to reproduce.
CD4 count number of CD4 cells in a drop of your blood. CD4 counts are measured in cells/mm3.
HIV human immunodeficiency virus.
immune system different parts of your body used to fight infections.
OI opportunistic infection (infection that occurs after your immune system has been damaged by HIV).
T cell CD4 cell
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HIV is especially difficult for the body to deal with because the cells that the virus uses to reproduce itself are the cells that the body uses to fight a viral infection. HIV infection makes infected cells die more quickly, and it also makes infected cells signal to other uninfected cells to die more quickly. Therefore, HIV doesn't need to infect every cell to cause them to die.
These two factors are like a dog chasing its tail!
After a while the HIV-specific CD4 cells (or T4 cells) get worn out and disappear (in most people within 6 months after infection). After many years the body gets very tired and the rest of the immune system is worn down.
This can be difficult to understand.
The main point is that HIV makes the immune system go into overdrive, producing more and more cells.
These cells die very quickly though, and over time the immune system loses out. This is why your CD4 count drops over time.
ARV treatment blocks HIV from reproducing, and returns your immune system back to an almost normal state.
Index 1.5 The immune system works 1.6 HIV and the immune system 1.7 CD4: surrogate marker
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Last updated on Monday 26th November 2007.
