The Body: The Complete HIV/AIDS Resource
Professionals >> Visit The Body PROThe Body en Espanol
Spotlight Series: HIV Stigma and Discrimination
Ask the Experts About

Fatigue and AnemiaFatigue and Anemia
Rollover images to visit our other forums!
  • Email Email
  • Glossary Glossary

HIV and other diseases.
Apr 27, 2004


My name is Steve and my wife and myself are both infected with the HIV virus. Although my progress is excellent, my wife not so. We recently found out she had only a .83CD4 count. Two months later with Medication her CD4 count is back up over .360 but she is very tired. A test has revealed a very low iron count. She also suffers from a condition called Common Variable Hypoglobinaemia (no idea how that word is spelt.) She usually has a low iron count but this time it was far too low. She is on a Combivir+Kaletra regime at the moment. What can be the cause of this and how can we approach her situation best? Can it be the HIV medication itself causing this? There is one very good doctor here but unfortunately he is not in our hospital very often and sometimes I question the other doctors. Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated.

Response from Dr. Frascino

Hello Steve,

It sounds as though your wife has several problems occurring simultaneously. From what you've told me, I can not tell if they are related. Briefly, "low iron" can be associated with many conditions, but is not a well recognized complication of either HIV or common variable immunodeficiency. Hopefully, your HIV doctor will be able to give you a more detailed response. Treatment generally involved iron supplementation.

Common Variable Immunodeficiency is characterized by having low gammaglobulin levels and recurrent bacterial infections, like sinusitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, ear infections, etc. Treatment includes antibiotics and possibly periodic intravenous gammaglobulin infusions.

Regarding your wife's HIV disease, the rise in CD4 counts is encouraging. Hopefully her viral load is low or non-detectable on her Combivir + Kaletra regimen. Working closely with a knowledgeable HIV specialist is crucial.

As for your wife's fatigue, there are many potential causes, including:

1. HIV itself. This should improve as the virus comes under better control with her medications.

2. Medication side effects. Many medications can have fatigue as a side effect. The AZT in her Combivir might also cause anemia, which in turn can cause fatigue.

3. Infections. Due to her Common Variable Immunodeficiency your wife is more prone to bacterial infections. Immunodeficiency from her HIV infection may make her more prone to other types of infections as well.

4. Hormonal problems.

5. Depression/Stress/Anxiety.

6. Anemia. This can often be associated with fatigue. Your wife has several possible causes of anemia, including iron deficiency, AZT-induced anemia, and anemia of chronic disease, which can be caused by HIV itself.

Steve, you and your wife need to discuss her various medical conditions in detail with an HIV specialist, and develop a plan to evaluate and treat her fatigue, as well as her HIV, Common Variable Immunodeficiency, and low iron. These are all very treatable conditions.

Good luck.

Dr. Bob

Swollen Lymph nodes
Can you have anemia based on just abnormally low Hematocrit?

  • Email Email
  • Glossary Glossary





Review our complete terms of use and copyright notice.

Powered by ExpertViewpoint