Normal CD4 Count Range among Healthy Nigerian Population in Ilorin

Afolabi, J. K., Fadeyi, A., Desalu, O. O., Durotoye, I. A., Fawibe, A. E., Adeboye, M. A. N., Olawumi, H. O., Babatunde, A. S., Ernest, S. K., Aderibigbe, S. A., Saadu, R., Salami, A. K., Aboyeji, A. P.

Journal of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (JIAPAC)

Published online on May 19, 2014

Abstract

Background:

For the establishment and monitoring of the immune status, CD4 count is critical.

Objectives:

To determine the CD4 count range of apparently healthy Nigerians resident in Ilorin and compare with the national value.

Methods:

An automated blood analyzer was used to determine the full blood count and CD4 count. The percentage of CD4 count was derived by using other variables.

Results:

Of the 1205 participants, the reference CD4 count (percentage of CD4) range for adult was 400 to 1288 cells/mm³ (19%-48%) and for children was 582 to 3652 cells/mm³ (17%-50%). CD4 count and percentage of CD4 were significantly (P = .001) higher in females than in males, and the CD4 count declined significantly with increasing age (r = –.174, P ≤ .0001). The percentage of CD4 count shows less variation with age (r = –.051, P = .076). Adult residents of Ilorin had significantly lower absolute mean CD4 count (808 ± 260) than that of the national reference values of 847.0 ± 307.0 cells/mm³ (P = .001).

Conclusion:

We therefore advocate the use of CD4 count range derived in this study is lower than that of the national reference values.