Estimation of CD4+ and CD8+ T-lymphocytes in human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome patients in Manipur.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate and stratify CD4 + and CD8 + T-lymphocyte levels in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected (asymptomatic) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients (symptomatic) and correlate the clinical features of the patients with CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocyte level.


METHODS
Between April 2002 and September 2003, a total of 415 HIV seropositive adult patients (297 males and 118 females) attending Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) hospitals were tested for CD4+ and CD8+ T-lymphocytes by fluorescent activated cell sorter (FACS) counter (Becton Dickinson). Symptomatic patients were diagnosed as per NACO clinical case definition.


RESULTS
Ranges of 0-50, 51-100, 101-200, 201-300, 301-400, 401-500 and above 500 CD4+ T-lymphocyte per microlitre were seen in 68, 52, 101, 73, 47, 31 and 43 patients respectively whereas CD8+ T-lymphocyte ranges of 0-300, 301-600, 601-900, 901-1500, 1501-2000, 2001-3500 per microlitre were seen in 29, 84, 92, 145, 40 and 25 patients respectively. One hundred and fifty patients were asymptomatic and 265 were symptomatic. CD4/CD8 ratio in asymptomatics and symptomatics were 0.13-1.69 and 0.01-0.93 respectively. Tuberculosis and candidiasis occurred in CD4+ T-lymphocyte categories between 0-400 cells per mL in symptomatics. However, cryptosporidiosis, toxoplasmosis, herpes zoster, cryptococcal meningitis, Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, penicilliosis and cytomegalovirus retinitis were seen in patients having CD4+ T-lymphocyte less than 200 per mL.


CONCLUSIONS
CD4+ T-lymphocyte was decreased in both asymptomatic and symptomatic HIV patients, The decrease was greater in symptomatics while CD8+ T-lymphocyte was increased in both except advanced stage symptomatics. CD4:CD8 ratio was reversed in both groups. Opportunistic infections correlated with different CD4+ T-lymphocyte categories.
Singh
H R
HR
Department of Microbiology, Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal - 795 004, Manipur, India. dr_rebachandra@yahoo.com
Singh
N G B
NG
Singh
T B
TB
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000276:immunology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*