HIV Speed Train

African Americans and HIV/AIDS

The HIV Speed Train
By Lawrence E. Lewis, MSW

HIV = Train
CD4+ = Workers
Antibodies = Railroad Track
Viral Load = Speed

The above illustration of a train provides a good way to think about the relationship between HIV, CD4+ T-cells, and viral loads.

Once infected with HIV, the body has this powerful and fast train that speeds through your body. This train's primary mission is to seek and destroy so that once it has knocked out all defenses; other invaders (Opportunistic Infections) can come in and take over. Without any outside assistance (medication - Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy), the train will finally make to the end of the line and crash into the main station (destroy the immune system); the workers (CD4+ T-Cells) have only one thing they can do, extend the track (antibodies). Extending the track helps to delay the inevitable destruction of the main station.

Along the way, the train (HIV) is steadily picking up speed (increasing viral load). Over time the train starts plowing over the workers (CD4+ T-cells), which decreases the amount of railroad track (antibodies) that can be laid. More workers (CD4+ T-Cells) are sent out over time, but the train just keeps getting faster and faster.

After years of this train getting faster (viral load increasing) and workers (CD4+ T-Cells) being killed and replaced, the speed of the train is faster than the speed at which workers can be lay track and be replaced. Outside assistance (medication - Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy), is now required; because, when the workers (CD4+ T-Cells) are outnumbered and other invaders (Opportunistic Infections) come in a crisis may be declared (the person is diagnosed with AIDS). The outside assistance (medication - Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy) comes in and slows down (reduces the viral load) the train. The train doesn't stop moving and the outside assistance (medications) may be required till the train eventually runs its course (the person dies), but this gives the person more time because it helps to regulate the speed of the train (the viral load) and to increase the workers (CD4+ T-Cells); thereby giving the person more time.