The effect of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection on cd4 t-lymphocyte depletion among people living with HIV and AIDS in Enugu, Nigeria.

This study evaluated the effect of HIV infection on CD4 T-lymphocyte depletion in people living with HIV/AIDS. Ninety (90) subjects recruited into this study were grouped into three -Diagnostic HIV positive (A), HIV positive subjects (B) on antiretroviral drugs (HAART) and HIV negative subjects (C) used as control group. Quantitative estimation of HIV load was carried out with Real-Time PCR, while CD4 and CD8 T-lymphocyte estimation was carried out using C6 Acurri flow cytometer system. Statistical analysis was done with Mann-Whitney test, Kruskal-Wallis statistic and Dunn’s Multiple Comparison Test at p < 0.05 as significant. There was significant reduction in mean CD4 T-lymphocyte counts in groups A (246.60186.10) and B (255.40168.70), while significant reduction in CD8 T-lymphocyte count occurred only in group A(449.20273.50). CD4/CD8 ratio reduced significantly in both A (0.770.66) and B (0.650.47), while the mean viral load of group B (145591.00259499.00) was significantly reduced when compared with that (24407.00106479.00) of group A. Though there was down regulation of viral burden during highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), there was no corresponding increase in T-cell proliferation. This indicates that there might be a qualitative defect imparted on the progenitor cells of CD4 T-lymphocytes during progressive HIV disease. Key Words: CD4 T-lymphocyte, antiretroviral therapy, HIV-infection, depletion and proliferation