For some people taking potent HIV therapies, getting well may mean feeling sicker for a little while. Immune-mediated illnesses take different forms depending on the OI that's being attacked. Cases have been connected to MAC , TB , CMV retinitis , herpes , and hepatitis .
Cancers appear to be unaffected.
These eye problems should not confused with uveitis associated with injections of anti-CMV medication. Researchers have also found an alarming correlation between increases in CD4 and CD8 immune cell counts and hepatitis C viral activity. In some cases, these flare-ups are the first sign of a previously undetected hepatitis infection. Reports to date suggest that these transient symptoms can last anywhere from a few months to more than a year and that they can be treated with OI therapies, as well as steroids in some cases, to reduce swelling. The good news is that these problems, while scary, may not mean that the illness will return in full force.