CD4 Count and Viral Load and their effect on antiretroviral therapy in different genders of HIV patients, in Punjab Pakistan

The global epidemic of HIV is caused by HIV type 1, which is dominant in Pakistan. In HIV type 1, increased morbidity and mortality is because of the progressive damage of CD4 T cell.  Approximately 2 million people are infected with HIV type 1 infection through sexual route. The life expectancy of people living with HIV is increased by using combined antiretroviral therapy (CRT). Now a days less people living with HIV die due to AIDS associated cancer and opportunistic infections. The use of a combination of three or more ART drugs (Antiretroviral drugs) to treat HIV infection is referred as antiretroviral treatment or therapy. In our study we check the CD4 count of HIV patients who are taking antiretroviral treatment to evaluate their immune status. CD4 count is very crucial marker of prognosis of disease in HIV/AIDS patients because CD4 cells are paradoxically non-tolerant to HIV, but resting CD4 cells predominantly support viral persistence under antiretroviral therapy.