Donna Sweet, M.D.Professor of Internal Medicine
University of Kansas School of Medicine - Wichita
Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2005. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date. My brother (51 y.o., smoker) was diagnosed with AIDS 4 months ago. He has a T-cell count of 69, severe weight loss (5'10 102 lbs), dementia, lesions (none in brain), and pneumonia. He is hospitalized. He has very little muscle control and experiences pain when touched or moved. He has not reacted well to the AIDS drugs and his doctor stopped treatment 3 months ago to try to build him up and started again 1 month ago. His doctor is an expert in AIDS and is an extremely positive upbeat person.
Honestly - what are his odds starting treatment so late? I need to help my mom prepare for the worst. Thank you in advance ...
Donna Sweet, M.D.
Professor of Internal Medicine
University of Kansas School of Medicine - Wichita
Although it is much less predictable that treatment outcomes will be good when a person begins therapy in the later stages of disease and when complicated by other illnesses, I cannot say that there is no hope in beginning ART at this stage. Though the treatment may be difficult for him at first because they will give him the most potent combination possible to provide the best possible treatment, he still has a very good chance of responding well. An experienced HIV physician will do the best he/she can to provide treatment for his HIV disease and strengthen his immune response while treating his other conditions. While being prepared for an eventual death of a loved one is not inappropriate for someone so ill, it is also not a certain thing that he won't respond well and improve greatly. A lot depends on what is causing some of his problems and upon his ability to respond to treatment---and every person is different. My thoughts are with you and hope that you will find you have many more months and years with your loved one.
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