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| Content Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Divisions of HIV/AIDS Prevention National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention |
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How does HIV cause AIDS?
HIV destroys a certain kind of blood cell (CD4+ T cells) which is crucial to
the normal function of the human immune system. In fact, loss of these cells
in people with HIV is an extremely powerful predictor of the development of
AIDS. Studies of thousands of people have revealed that most people
infected with HIV carry the virus for years before enough damage is done to
the immune system for AIDS to develop. However, sensitive tests have
shown a strong connection between the amount of HIV in the blood and the
decline in CD4+ T cells and the development of AIDS. Reducing the amount
of virus in the body with anti-retroviral therapies can dramatically slow the
destruction of a person’s immune system.
HIV destroys a certain kind of blood cell (CD4+ T cells) which is crucial to
the normal function of the human immune system. In fact, loss of these cells
in people with HIV is an extremely powerful predictor of the development of
AIDS. Studies of thousands of people have revealed that most people
infected with HIV carry the virus for years before enough damage is done to
the immune system for AIDS to develop. However, sensitive tests have
shown a strong connection between the amount of HIV in the blood and the
decline in CD4+ T cells and the development of AIDS. Reducing the amount
of virus in the body with anti-retroviral therapies can dramatically slow the
destruction of a person’s immune system.
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