Predictors of CD4+ lymphocyte count among HIV-Seropositive and HIV-Seronegative pregnant women in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania

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/mm(3), standard deviation (SD)=232 cells/mm(3)) than HIV-seropositive women (mean=422cells/mm(3), SD=205 cells/mm(3)). 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/mm(3) for each increment of 1000 WBC cells/mm(3), while each PO mm/hr increase in ESR was associated with a reduction of CD4+ lymphocyte count of about 8 cells/mm(3). 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.