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Q: HIV and AIDS non-progressors and elite controllers
asked by: DoctorQuestion on February 21st, 2009
Dear Doc,How rare are long-term non-progressors?My understanding is they they are quite rare. I have not been tested for hiv, but if I did contract it it would have been about 12 yrs ago. I have extensively researched hiv and it seems that if I were positive,I would be having serious symptoms by now unless I am a long-term non-progressor. I have not had any:thrush,skin rashes,fever, diarrhea,shingles,oral problems,weight loss,and have not vomited since I was a child.I have recently become VERY anxious about the whole idea seeing as I've never been tested.For 3 weeks I've had symptoms that seem to match benign fasciculations in my legs- and from my research again, these can often be brought on by stress and anxiety.I KNOW the only way to be sure is it to be tested, but from a medical persepective, would you say it sounds likely I am positive based on symptoms and number of years?I have had a few recurrent head colds but am an gr.4 teacher with lots of sick kids. Thank you kindly.


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Dr. Goce Aleksovski , MD
replied on February 23rd, 2009
HIV and AIDS Answer A5850


None of the symptoms and conditions you mentioned is specific only for an HIV infection. Therefore, the only way to determine if you are HIV positive would be an HIV test.


Long-term non-progressors (LTNPs) are a group of individuals who are infected with HIV, but whose infection does not progress to AIDS. The elite controllers are a subset of this group who show an ability to suppress the HIV viral load to extremely low, often undetectable levels for an indefinite length of time. The reason for this is still unknown and an object of many studies.


It is estimated that as many as 1 in 100 people with HIV/AIDS are long-term non-progessors, and as many as 1 in 300 are elite controllers.




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