Correlation of CD4 with Total Lymphocyte Counts in HIV Patients

Abstract

Worldwide estimates of people living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus was approximately 32 million in 2007 with thousands of people getting infected every day therapy (Obirikorang et.al, 2012). Globally, 34 million people were living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) at the end of 2011 (Chen et.al, 2013). Most people living with HIV are from developing countries with less than 5% receiving antiretroviral therapy (Obirikorang et.al, 2012). A CD4 count is a laboratory test that measures the number of CD4 T lymphocytes (CD4 cells) in a sample of blood. In HIV patients, it is the most important laboratory indicator of how well the immune system is working and the strongest predictor of HIV progression. Once a person is infected with HIV, the virus begins to attack and destroy the CD4 cells of the person’s immune system. HIV uses the CD4 cells to multiply and spread throughout the body. This is the HIV life cycle. The associated immune deficiency in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients leading to infection by opportunistic pathogen is ascribed to depletion of CD4. CD4 count can therefore be regarded as the accurate measurement of the robustness and functionality of the immune capability to protect the body against general infection. CD4 T lymphocyte cell depletion is one of the hallmarks of progression of HIV infection and a major indicator of the stage of the disease in HIV infected individuals. World Health Organization recommended that most treatment initiation decisions be guided by CD4 measurement and clinical staging.