title: Normal CD4+ T lymphocyte levels in HIV seronegative individuals in the Manya/Yilo Krobo communities in the Eastern region of Ghana.
abstract: The goal of this study was to determine the normal levels of CD4+ T lymphocytes in healthy individuals who were HIV seronegative in the Manya and Yilo Krobo Districts of Ghana's Eastern Region. This enabled comparisons with normal CD4 count ranges established by the World Health Organization (WHO). The study population consisted of 249 HIV-seronegative clients from a mobile free Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) service in communities of the two districts during a one-month period. The mean CD4 count of these individuals was 1067 cells/microl with women demonstrating higher baseline CD4 counts than men. This study found a WHO comparable HIV seronegative baseline CD4 count as well as gender-based differences in the CD4 count and CD4/CD8 ratio. Establishment of the adult baseline for the country provides important demographic data and indicates the appropriateness of current global treatment guidelines with regards to CD4 levels in Ghana.
authors.affiliation: Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Ghana.
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ampofo
authors.forename: Kwasi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Torpey
authors.forename: Y D
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Mukadi
authors.forename: Kwadwo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Koram
authors.forename: Kisten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nolan
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Amenyah
authors.forename: Ekow
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kaitoo
authors.forename: Phyllis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Antwi
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ofori-Adjei
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lamptey
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count / Q000592:standards; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005869:Ghana; D018023:HIV Seronegativity / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014944:World Health Organization