CD4+ T-lymphocyte variations in patients with advanced human immunodeficiency virus infection and counts below 100 cells per microliter

✍ Scribed by Jeannette Guarner; Patricia Montoya; Carlos del Rio; Griselda Hernandez-Tepichin

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1997
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 34 KB
• Volume: 30
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0196-4763
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1097-0320(19970815)30:4<178::aid-cyto3>3.0.co;2-g

✦ Synopsis

Variability in CD4

1 T-lymphocyte measurements has been described for both normal and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected persons. Clinical protocols use CD4 1 cell counts as surrogate markers for disease progression or response. In this study, we determined the variability of CD4 1 T-lymphocytes below 100 cells/ml when measured less than 7 days apart. Two consecutive lymphocyte subset measurements were performed in 55 patients using CD3/CD4 antibodies in a flow cytometer (Epics Profile II). Specimens were collected between 8:00 and 10:00 am within the same week. Data from the first and second measurements were compared. The average total lymphocyte count on the first measurement was 1,064 (360-2,853), and on the second 1,162 (320-2,223; P 5 0.07); the percentage CD4 was 1.76 (0-8) on the first, and on the second 1.98 (0-9; P 5 0.3); the absolute CD4 cell count on the first measurement was 16.6 (0-57) and on the second 22.8 (0-93; P 5 0.01). Statistically significant differences were found between the first and second absolute CD4 T-lymphocytes but not in the CD4 percentage. These differences probably are due to variations in total lymphocyte count. For research protocols, repeating CD4 1 cell determinations within a short period is advisable, to ensure a homogeneous population. On the other hand, for day-to-day patient follow-up, a combination of clinical criteria and both percentage and absolute CD4 1 cell counts should be used to make treatment decisions, because repeating CD4 cell measurements can be very costly.