title: Comparison of two methodologies for CD4⁺ T lymphocytes relative counting on immune monitoring of patients with human immunodeficiency virus.
abstract: Considering that counting the percentage of CD4 T lymphocytes can add prognostic information regarding patients infected with HIV, the aim of this study was to evaluate the percentage values of CD4⁺ T lymphocytes from 81 patients determined by flow cytometry and estimated by flow cytometry in conjunction with a hematology counter. Means were compared through the Student's t-test. Pearson's correlation was determined, and the agreement between results was tested by Bland-Altman. The level of significance was P < 0.05. It was found a significantly higher mean difference between the relative values of CD4⁺ T lymphocytes to the hematologic counter (P < 0.05), for all strata studied. Positive and significant correlations (P < 0.01) were found between the strata CD4 < 200 cells/mL (r = 0.93), between 200 and 500 cells/mL (r = 0.65), and >500 cells/mL (r = 0.81). The limits of agreement were 1.0 ± 3.8% for the stratum of CD4 < 200 cells/mL, approximately 2.2 ± 13.5% for the stratum of CD4 between 200 and 500 cells/mL, and approximately 6.2 ± 20.4% for the stratum > 500 cells/mL. The differences in the percentages of CD4⁺ T lymphocytes obtained by different methodologies could lead to conflict when used in clinical decisions related to the treatment and care of people infected with HIV.
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical Sciences Post Graduate Program, State University of Ponta Grossa-UEPG, General Carlos Cavalcanti Avenue, 4748 Uvaranas, 84030-900 Ponta Grossa, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Danielle Cristyane
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Kalva Borato
authors.forename: Emerson
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carraro
authors.forename: Sônia Regina
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Weber Ribas
authors.forename: Carlos Augusto
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Kalva-Filho
authors.forename: José Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Rebuglio Vellosa
mesh_terms: D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count / Q000379:methods*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D015166:Monitoring, Immunologic / Q000379:methods*