Evaluation of a quantitative determination of CD4 and CD8 molecules as an alternative to CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocyte counts in Africans.
In the developed word, monitoring HIV-infected patients is routinely determined by CD4+ T lymphocyte absolute counts. The reference procedure, flow cytometry, is expensive, requires sophisticated instrumentation and operators with specific training. Due to these limitations, CD4 counting is often unavailable in developing countries. The Capcellia assay is an enzyme-linked immunoassay for quantitative determination of CD4 and CD8 molecules. We evaluated this method in West Africa on blood samples collected from 39 HIV-uninfected and 44 HIV-infected adult subjects. CD4 concentration ranges were determined according to the clinical stages of the disease. We then studied the relationship between the two methods in the HIV-infected patients. The Spearman's rank correlation was 0.61 (95% confidence interval: 0.38-0.76, P < 0.0001). Nevertheless, determination of limits of agreement revealed discrepancies between the two methods, especially for CD4 counts > 0.4 x 10(9)/l, which are discussed. We conclude that the Capcellia assay is a convenient means to determine the immunodepression level where flow cytometric instrumentation is unavailable, and can be complementary to CD4 T lymphocyte enumeration.
Diagbouga
S
S
Centre MURAZ, Organization de Coordination et de Coopération pour la lutte contre les Grandes Endémies, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso. griv.muraz@fasonet.bf
Durand
G
G
Sanou
P T
PT
Dahourou
H
H
Ledru
E
E
D000328:Adult; D000354:Africa, Western; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic