T-lymphocyte subsets in lung transplant recipients: Association between nadir CD4 T-cell count and viral infections after transplantation

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the kinetics of T-cell subsets in lung transplant recipients (LTR) and their association with the occurrence of opportunistic infections (OI). OBJECTIVES: To analyze the kinetics of T-lymphocyte subsets in LTR and the association between nadir CD4 T-cell count and viral infections after transplantation. STUDY DESIGN: Serial measurements of peripheral blood CD4 and CD8 T-cell counts obtained during the first year post-transplantation from 83 consecutive LTR and their correlation with both viral OI and community-acquired infections post-transplantation were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: LTR with a nadir CD4 T-cell count 200 cells/μl (p200 cells/μl (p=0.0012 and p=0.0058, respectively). A nadir CD4 T-cell count