A 15-year study found that HIV-positive individuals had a 40 percent increased risk of ischemic stroke, however stroke rates were nearly the same for HIV-positive individuals with high CD4 cell counts as for HIV-negative subjects.Ischemic stroke is caused by plaque build-up in blood vessels, which can lead to constriction or actual obstruction of blood and oxygen flow to the brain. A CD4 cell count below 500 is considered a sign of a weakened immune system as it indicates lower numbers of white blood cells that fight infections and inflammation.According to new finding, CD4 cell count was the strongest HIV-specific risk factor, suggesting an effect of current immunodeficiency on ischemic stroke risk and results suggest that maintenance of immune function may protect against ischemic stroke.The study, published recently in AIDS, the official journal of the International AIDS Society, revealed that HIV-positive individuals with CD4 cell counts of 500 or more had no excess risk of ischemic stroke compared with HIV-negative individuals.Enter your text here.