title: Within-subject variation in CD4 lymphocyte count in asymptomatic human immunodeficiency virus infection: implications for patient monitoring.
abstract: Changes in CD4 lymphocyte counts are widely used in monitoring human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients for disease progression. However, random fluctuations may obscure clinically significant changes. CD4 cell counts from 1020 untreated subjects with asymptomatic HIV infection monitored by standardized methods for up to 2 years were assessed. The within-subject coefficient of variation averaged 25% but was higher in subjects with lower counts; in 6% of subjects the count was half or double the one obtained 8 weeks before. Proportionate rates of decline, which had negligible correlation with the baseline count, averaged 14.3%/year but varied considerably between subjects: An estimated 29% had increasing trends. Declines were greater in HIV p24-positive subjects and those with higher lymphocyte percentages or lower platelet counts or hemoglobin levels. With such high variation, changes between single counts should be interpreted cautiously. Using multiple counts and other markers may provide more precise assessment of immune status.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Gundacker
authors.forename: F T
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: Valentine
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Phair
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Volberding
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis; D000328:Adult; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000097:blood; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24 / Q000097:blood; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015166:Monitoring, Immunologic; D010976:Platelet Count; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D016827:CD8 Antigens; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24; D006454:Hemoglobins; D015215:Zidovudine