title: [Clinicopathologic correlation between CD4-positive T lymphocyte counts and superficial lymphadenopathy in HIV-positive/AIDS patients].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the clinicopathological correlation between CD4(+) T lymphocyte count and superficial lymphadenopathy HIV/AIDS patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 1066 HIV/AIDS patients were included in this study. The incidence of superficial lymphadenopathy, peripheral blood CD4(+) T lymphocyte counts and histological features of superficial lymphadenopathy were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 1066 patients, 126 cases (11.8%) presented with superficial lymphadenopathy. Of the 126 cases, there were 69 cases with CD4(+) T lymphocyte counts < 100/µl and clinical diagnoses including tuberculosis (37 cases), reactive hyperplasia (8 cases), AIDS-related lymphadenopathy (18 cases), penicillium diseases (12 cases), fungal infection (5 cases) and non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection (1 case). Twenty-six cases had CD4(+) T lymphocyte counts between 100/µl to 200/µl and clinical diagnosis including tuberculosis (12 cases), reactive hyperplasia (8 cases), AIDS-related lymphadenopathy(6 cases), penicillium disease (2 cases) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (1 case). Twenty-nine cases had CD4(+) T lymphocyte counts > 200/µl and clinical diagnoses including tuberculosis (11 cases), reactive hyperplasia (12 cases), AIDS-related lymphadenopathy (3 cases), Penicillium diseases (1 case) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (4 cases). The CD4(+) T lymphocyte counts among patients with tuberculosis, AIDS-related lymphadenopathy and Penicillium diseases were significantly different (χ(2) = 8.861, P = 0.012). A significant correlation between the incidence of superficial lymphadenopathy and CD4(+) T lymphocyte counts was found (χ(2) = 375.41, P = 0.000).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The most common cause of superficial lymphadenopathy in HIV/AIDS patients is tuberculosis, followed by lymph node reactive hyperplasia, AIDS-related lymphadenopathy and Penicillium disease. Low CD4(+) T lymphocyte count correlates with an increased incidence of superficial lymphadenopathy and the risk of opportunity infection. Therefore, determination of peripheral blood CD4(+) T lymphocyte count should become an integral marker for the early diagnosis and treatment of superficial lymphadenopathy in HIV/AIDS patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infection, the Fourth People's Hospital of Nanning, Nanning 530023, China.
authors.forename: Xiang-chan
authors.initials: XC
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Jian-ning
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Ai-chun
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Xue-qin
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Min-hong
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Mou
authors.forename: Ru-zhi
authors.initials: RZ
authors.lastname: Ou
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000386:AIDS-Related Complex / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult