Predictors of CD4+ lymphocyte count among HIV-seropositive and HIV-seronegative pregnant women in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

East Afr Med J. 2000 Apr;77(4):206-11. doi: 10.4314/eamj.v77i4.46622.

Abstract

Objective: To determine the predictors of CD4+ lymphocyte count among pregnant women in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Methods: Between 04/1995 and 03/1997, HIV-seropositive (n=1,027) and HIV-seronegative (n=280) pregnant women were interviewed to obtain socio-demographic characteristics. Later, blood samples was collected for determination of T-lymphocyte subsets and other haematological indices.

Results: CD4+ lymphocyte count was significantly higher among HIV-seronegative women (mean=770 cells/mm3, standard deviation (SD)=232 cells/mm3) than HIV-seropositive women (mean=422 cells/mm3, SD=205 cells/mm3). Most HIV-seropositive women were asymptomatic, in WHO clinical stage 1 (84.3%). Among HIV-seropositive women, total white blood count (WBC) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) remained significantly correlated with CD4+ after adjusting for other predictors in multivariate analyses. For women of average age 25 years, the CD4+ lymphocyte count increased by about 16 cells/mm3 for each increment of 1000 WBC cells/mm3, while each 10 mm/hr increase in ESR was associated with a reduction of CD4+ lymphocyte count of about 8 cells/mm3.

Conclusion: These results show that simple and inexpensive haematological indices cannot be recommended for use as alternative measures of HIV-related immunosuppression in this population of mainly asymptomatic women.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • CD4 Lymphocyte Count*
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / immunology
  • HIV Seronegativity / immunology*
  • HIV Seropositivity / immunology*
  • HIV-1 / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Pregnancy / immunology*
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / immunology
  • Tanzania