CD4 T cells work by triggering an immune response when faced with a pathogen.
CD8 T cells respond by attacking the tagged pathogen and neutralizing it.
Suppressor T cells then “turn off” CD4 activity when a sufficient immune response has been achieved.
Bernd Lauter / Getty Images
What is a normal CD4/CD8 ratio?
A CD4/CD8 ratio is considered normal when the value is between 1.0 and 3.0.
The CD4/CD8 ratio tends to decrease as we age, making people more susceptible to pathogens.
WhenHIV therapyis initiated promptly, the ratio will generally return to normal.
If this happens, the ratio may never rise much above 1.0.
The CD4/CD8 ratio test is most frequently used to monitor HIV status.
However, it can also be used to diagnose and assess other conditions.
Which Health Conditions Have a Low CD4/CD8 Ratio?
This includes theCD4 countand viral load.
Okoye AA, Picker LJ.CD4(+) T-cell depletion in HIV infection: mechanisms of immunological failure.Immunol Rev.
2019;20(1):31.
Published 2019 Aug 28. doi:10.1186/s12865-019-0311-2
Clinicalinfo.HIV.gov.Guidelines for the Use of Antiretroviral Agents in Pediatric HIV Infection.
OSF Healthcare.Tests & Procedures - CD4-CD8 Ratio.
