[Idiopathic CD4 lymphocytopenia].
In healthy adults the CD4+ lymphocyte count in circulating blood is remarkably stable over a prolonged period. In patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) CD4 counts drop off sharply and can be used as a predictive marker of midterm outcome. However certain case reports of patients with out HIV infection, some reported as early as 1983, have led to a much publicized search for another immunosuppressive retrovirus. In reality no evidence of any such virus has been found and the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organisation have now defined the syndrome of idiopathic CD4 lymphocytopenia which includes a CD4 count below 300/mm3 or less than 20% of total lymphocytes in at least two successive counts without anti-HIV antibodies and without a known cause of immune deficiency or immunosuppressor treatment. The syndrome is extremely rare and although only recently identified, is probably not new. No endemic zone is known and there is no evidence of inter-human transmission. The clinical presentation is different from HIV infection. Although patients are susceptible to opportunistic infections, CD4 counts have relative stability and no hypergammaglobulinaemia occurs. Idiopathic CD4 lymphopenia is probably a primary immunodeficiency syndrome.
Piketty
C
C
Weiss
L
L
Kazatchkine
M
M
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000150:complications*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018344:T-Lymphocytopenia, Idiopathic CD4-Positive / Q000150:complications*
Lymphocytopénie CD4 idiopathique.