CD4+ T cell response in HIV-positive women initiating highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART)‎ at general gospital, Kabba, Kogi State, Nigeria

Abstract EN

Reportedly, HIV-infected patients on HAART exhibited accelerated increase in the first three months.

We therefore tested a hypothesis that there is no difference between 3 month follow-up and baseline CD4 counts of HIV-positive women initiating Stavudine, Lamivudine and Nevirapine at General Hospital, Kabba, Kogi State, Nigeria.

As a prospective study, 100 consenting HIV-positive, HAART-naïve women aged 17-45 years were studied.

Two blood samples were aseptically obtained by venipuncture from each woman before and after 3 months on HAART and assessed for pre– and post–therapeutic CD4 counts using automated FACSCount® System.

Pertinent data of participants were obtained using questionnaire forms.

For the purpose of comparison, the women were grouped into pre-therapeutic CD4 count of < 200; 200-349 and ≥ 350 cells / μl groups.

SPSS 15.0 was used for the statistical analyses.

The mean baseline and follow-up CD4 counts were respectively 320.03 cells / μl and 620.92 cells / μl (n =100), the latter was significantly (P = 0.001) higher than the former.

Unlike the mean follow-up CD4 count of the women in the ≥ 350 cells / μl group, mean follow-up CD4 counts of those in the < 200 and 200-349 CD4 cells / μl groups were significant (P = 0.001) higher than their respective mean baseline values.

The 74 women who responded “adherent” to HAART had significantly (P = 0.001) higher mean follow-up CD4 count contrary to that of the remaining 26 “non-adherent” women who exclusively belonged to the ≥ 350 CD4 cells / μl group.

The women who responded “yes” and “no” to having diabetes/hepatitis were comparable (P = 0.62) in their mean follow-up CD4 counts.

We concluded that 75% of the HIV-positive women had significant increase in CD4 count, hence they had short-term immunologic benefit; and that rather than the pre-therapeutic CD4 count of ≥ 350 cells / μl or having diabetes / hepatitis, it was “non-adherence” to HAART that apparently accounted for lack of therapeutic benefit among the 10 women who had < 349 CD4 cells / μl after 3 months on HAART.