Lab Test Tip

Experiencing viral 'blips' -- small increases in viral load measurements that eventually return to the prior, lower level measured? You might want to talk with your caregiver about a screening for early signs of kidney failure. An analysis presented at 16th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections has shown that transient increases in HIV viral levels are strongly linked with decreased glomerular filtration rates, a measurement of fluid filtered by the kidneys. Each one-log increase in HIV RNA was linked with a seven-milliliter drop in fluid filtered by the kidneys every minute. Large drops can allow toxins to build up dangerously in the blood. CD4-cell counts were not associated with kidney dysfunction, according to the study.