Final answer:
The statement is false because the acute phase of HIV infection is marked by a temporary increase in CD4 T-cell counts after an initial drop, not a continual decrease. CD4 T-cell counts are a key indicator of HIV progression, and monitoring these counts is vital for effective HIV treatment management.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that CD4 T-cell counts decrease continually from the acute phase until the chronic phase of HIV infection is false. During the acute phase of HIV infection, there is a rapid viral replication which leads to an initial drop in CD4 T-cell numbers. But soon after, an immune response results in a temporary increase in helper T cells, as the body fights the infection. This includes an elevation in killer T cells that target HIV-infected cells, and the production of HIV antibodies, causing the viral load to start declining and the CD4 T-cell count to recover. However, this initial response does not eradicate the virus, and without treatment, the CD4 T-cell counts will eventually begin a more steady decline.
In Stage 1, acute HIV infection, patients have a high viral load but more than 500 cells/μL CD4 T cells. Then, the disease progresses to Stage 2, the clinical latency period, where patients may not exhibit symptoms, and CD4 T-cell counts can be between 200 and 499 cells/μL. Finally, Stage 3, AIDS, is characterized by CD4 T-cell counts falling below 200 cells/μL and the development of opportunistic infections.
It's important to monitor CD4 T-cell counts regularly. If counts fall below 500 cells/μL, it may signal the need to adjust HIV treatment. This monitoring is typically done using flow cytometry, a sensitive test allowing precise determination of T-cell numbers.