Nonprogressors and HIV resistant

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Nonprogressors and HIV resistant

A few people with HIV are described as nonprogressors. These people have HIV that does not progress to more severe symptoms or disease. Most nonprogressors:

Have lived with the infection for 10 to 15 years and remained healthy.
Do not have declining CD4+ cell counts.
Have a very low level of HIV in their blood.

A small number of people never become infected with HIV despite years of exposure to the virus; for example, they may have repeated, unprotected sex with an infected person. These people are said to be HIV-resistant.

Studies are under way to determine why some people either do not become infected with HIV or, if they do, why they do not develop symptoms or lose CD4+ cells. Research has shown that:

Some people's CD4+ cells are relatively resistant to HIV. If HIV cannot attach itself to CD4+ cells, it cannot destroy them.
Some people's immune systems may be better able to destroy the virus.
Some strains of HIV may not be as harmful.

Credits

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Author	Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS
Editor	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA
Associate Editor	Tracy Landauer
Primary Medical Reviewer	Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer	Peter Shalit, MD, PhD - Internal Medicine
Last Updated	May 8, 2008

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Last updated:	May 08, 2008
Author:	Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS
Reviewed By:	Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine, Peter Shalit, MD, PhD - Internal Medicine
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer

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