Baseline CD4 lymphocyte count among HIV patients in Kano, Northern Nigeria

Abstract

HIV causes immunodeficiency by infection, lyses and depletion of CD4 T-lymphocytes; hence CD4 count has become a valuable indicator of immune function in the management of HIV infection. Consequently, we evaluated baseline CD4 counts of 500 HIV seropsitive adults in a government sponsored anti-retroviral treatment (ART) scheme at our centre, for the purpose of monitoring subsequent response to anti-retrovirals. The overwhelming majority (92%) of our patients were within the sexually active, 3rd to 5th decade age group, and the mean CD4 count was 302 cells/μl. Half of our patients (251 cases) had AIDS as defined by CD4 count