CORRELATION BETWEEN CLINICAL PROFILE, CD 4 COUNT AND TOTAL LYMPHOCYTE COUNT IN HIV INFECTED PERSONS

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: HIV infection can be monitored by laboratory and clinical markers of disease progression. In the absence of CD 4 count, the use of Total Lymphocyte Count has been advocated to predict CD 4 count and to stage HIV disease. This study was undertaken to show whether the TLC accurately predicts a low CD 4 count in HIV infected persons and its clinical correlation. METHODOLOGY: The data for the study was collected from HIV positive inpatients and outpatients of KIMS Hospital, Bangalore from March 2004 to March 2006. A total 50 patients were subjected to clinical examination and relevant investigations including CD 4 Count and TLC. RESULTS: In our study, males (39), outnumbered females (11). The major risk factor for HIV infection in these patients was unprotected, multiple sexual contacts. Fever, Anorexia, Weight loss, Lethargy, Cough, Diarrhea and Mouth ulcers were the common presenting symptoms. Tuberculosis, Chronic diarrhea, Oropharyngeal candidiasis were the most common opportunistic infections. Majority of the patients had CD 4 Count less than 350 cells/mu l and were symptomatic. The Total Lymphocyte Counts of 1750 cells/mu l and 2450 cells/mu l correlated to CD 4 counts of 200 cells/mu l and 350 cells/mu l respectively. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: There was a highly significant correlation between CD 4 Count and Total Lymphocyte Count. TLC can be used as an effective laboratory tool to monitor disease progression in HIV infected persons where CD 4 is not available and in resource poor countries.