Possible Use of Absolute Lymphocyte Count as Surrogate for CD4+ Cells Count in Monitoring Response to Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy in Sokoto.

Abstract

Few laboratories in resource-constrained countries can afford to perform laboratory-monitoring tests required for the management of HIV therapy. The initiation of an antiretroviral therapy is based on CD4+ count less than 350 cells/mm3according to the World Health Organization (WHO) and Center for Disease Control (CDC). The determination of CD4+count however in resource limited localities is difficult. In this cross sectional comparative study, the relevance of absolute lymphocyte count (ALC)  as a possible surrogate for CD4+ cell count in monitoring response to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) was investigated. A total of eighty-eight (88) HIV- infected patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and thirty (30) HIV-negative individuals were recruited for this study. Blood samples were run for absolute lymphocyte count and CD4+ cell counts and the results were compared using Linear Regression analysis. A modest correlation was observed between absolute lymphocyte count and CD4+ cell count(r =0.139, p = >0.05) of 88 HIV-infected persons on HAART, relevant for monitoring response to HAART. The ALC and CD4+ count of HIV subjects decreased significantly (p<0.001) when compared with control. This study indicates a modest correlation between absolute lymphocyte count andCD4+ cell counts of HIV infected patients on HAART. Absolute lymphocyte count may be adopted as an inexpensive and readily available to CD4+ cell counts.