title: A technique for accurate use of CD4+ cell counts.
abstract: Despite uncertainty over their reliability, CD4+ cell counts are used extensively in both clinical and research settings to document progression in HIV infection. We examined, therefore, whether the performance of a simple statistical test would facilitate greater accuracy in the use of this marker. CD4+ cell count data were collected from a cohort of deceased (N = 60) and living HIV-positive gay men (N = 100). Pearson's product moment correlation coefficients were calculated for each individual in order to examine the association between CD4+ counts and time since diagnosis. Correlations of 0.7 or greater were obtained in approximately 50 percent of cases in each cohort. For these individuals, CD4+ cell counts were deemed to be a reliable indicator of rate of progression. The results suggest that the proposed technique ensures greater precision in the use of CD4+ cell counts and that the technique cna be used in individuals with either complete (deceased patients) or partial (living patients) CD4+ data.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff, UK.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vedhara
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Nott
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Richards
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bradbeer
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Davidson
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Ong
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Snow
mesh_terms: D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results