HIV makes it harder for your body to fight infections by attacking the immune system (Ĭ-mūn' sis'təm), which is the body's defense against infections and disease. CD4+ cells, sometimes called T-cells, are part of our immune system. They identify and fight infections and other diseases that invade our body. Your CD4 count is the number of CD4+ cells in a sample of blood. The number of CD4+ cells in your body can tell your doctor about the overall health of your immune system. Generally, the more CD4+ cells in your blood, the stronger your immune system.
Once HIV gets into your bloodstream, it targets and attacks CD4+ cells in your body to make more virus (known as replication [rep”lĭ-ka'shən]). This attack destroys CD4+ cells, and the amount of virus in the body (known as viral load) increases. This weakens your body's immune system and makes it difficult to fight off infections.
Words and terms that you may hear your healthcare provider use can be found in the Glossary section.
Please consult Full Prescribing Information, including boxed WARNING, Medication Guide, and Important Safety Information for VIRAMUNE.
