title: CD4+ T Lymphocytes count in sickle cell anaemia patients attending a tertiary hospital.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sickle cell haemoglobin (HbS) is the commonest abnormal haemoglobin and it has a worldwide distribution. Reports have shown that patients with sickle cell anaemia (HbSS) have an increased susceptibility to infection leading to increased morbidity and mortality. Impaired leucocyte function and loss of both humoral and cell-mediated immunity are some of the mechanisms that have been reported to account for the immunocompromised state in patients with sickle cell disease. This study was carried out to determine the CD4+ T lymphocytes count in patients with sickle cell anaemia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A comparative cross-sectional study of 40 sickle cell anaemia patients in steady state (asymptomatic for at least 4 weeks) attending haematology clinic and 40 age and sex-matched healthy HbA control were recruited into the study. Both HbS patients and the controls were HIV negative. The blood samples obtained were analyzed for CD4+ T cell by Flow cytometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study found that there was no significant difference in the number of CD4+ T lymphocyte count between individuals with sickle cell anaemia and HbA (1016 ± 513 cells/μL vs 920 ± 364cells/μL).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is recommended that the functionality of CD4+ T lymphocyte should be considered rather than the number in further attempt to elucidate the cellular immune dysfunction in patients with sickle cell anaemia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, Ogun, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Omotola Toyin
authors.initials: OT
authors.lastname: Ojo
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Wuraola Adebola
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Shokunbi
keywords: CD4 T lymphocyte; cellular immunity; flowcytometry; sickle cell anaemia