Assessment of CD4 T Lymphocyte Cell Levels among Hepatitis B, C and E Viruses Negative Individuals in Ibadan, southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

The CD4 T lymphocytes play a key role in achieving a regulated effective immune response to foreign antigens. It is also a valuable parameter for assessing HIV disease progression. However, variations in CD4 T lymphocyte values due to diverse factors have been reported. We evaluated CD4 T lymphocytes among healthy community dwellers who tested negative for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and hepatitis E viruses and compared the results with the National Reference Values (NRVs). Four hundred consenting participants who fulfilled the criteria for enrolment were evaluated for CD4 T lymphocyte counts. Estimated mean CD4 T lymphocyte count of 1,183 (CD4 Range: 328-2680) cells/l of blood was recorded for the participants. Four (1.0%), 151 (37.8%), 157 (39.2%), 74 (18.5), and 14 (3.5) of the participants had CD4 T lymphocyte count ranged 352-500, 501-1,000, 1,001-1500, 1501-2,000, and >2,000 cells/l of blood, respectively. Differences in the estimated mean CD4 count between different age groups varied significantly (P=0.010). In this study, significantly higher CD4 T lymphocyte values were observed among the study population in comparison to the NRVs, and consequently we advise careful interpretation and use of extrapolated CD4 T lymphocyte values in the management of persons with diverse geographical background or health conditions.