Saudi Journal of Pathology and Microbiology (SJPM)
Volume-5 | Issue-03 | 176-183
Original Research Article
To Determine the Correlation between D-Dimer and CD4+ T-Cell Count in HIV Treatment-Naive and Treatment-Experienced Patients in Port-Harcourt, Nigeria
Akhidue DO, Akhidue K, Alikor C, Ejele OA
Published : March 8, 2020
Abstract
Background: Reports suggest that HIV-infected patients have elevated D-dimer levels that may be related to chronic inflammation and coagulation abnormalities. Levels of D-dimer have also been reported to be higher in HIV treatment-naïve patients compared to treatment- experienced patients. HIV infection has also been associated with a decrease in the number of both CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells resulting primarily from a combination of increased apoptosis and decreased lymphopoiesis. Methods: Eighty (80) subjects attending HIV clinic at the University of Port-Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Rivers state who satisfied the inclusion criteria were enrolled into the study. A commercial assay kit; ELISA Kit for D-Dimer (D2D) (manufactured by Uscn Life Science IncorporatedR USA) was used with a TC96+ ELISA microplate reader (manufactured by Ceco diagnosticR USA) to determine the D-dimer level. CD4 + T-cell count was evaluated using the Partec Cyflow counter-1, a single-platform, three-parameter (SSC plus two-colour fluorescence) desktop volumetric flow cytometer (manufactured by Sysmex PartecR Germany).Full blood count was carried out on the EDTA anticoagulated sample using the Horiba Abx Micros 60 Haematology Analyser (manufactured by Horiba instruments incorporatedR USA). Results: The D-dimer level was found to be lower in HAART- experienced subjects (288.35 ± 129.12 ng/ml) than HAART-naïve subjects (389.85 ± 217.61ng/ml.) (P= 0.013).The mean CD4+ T-cell count of HAART–naïve subjects was 379.33±287.25 cell/ul and for HAART–experienced subjects was 387.55±334.85 cell/ul. Their mean difference was not statistically significant (P=0.906). Conclusion: It was observed that there was no correlation between D-Dimer and CD4+ T-cell count in HAART-naive and experienced subjects.