Correlation between total lymphocyte counts and CD4 among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients

Although the CD4+ T-lymphocyte is considered the best HIV disease progression marker, in underdevelopment countries the measurement of CD4 is remaining a problem due to high expense and less availability of the tool. In contrast with the total lymphocyte count (TLC) that is widely available and less expensive is another way to assess the HIV disease progression. This study was an observational study to identify the correlation between CD4 cell count and TLC in HIV infected patient at Sanjiwani Hospital Bali during May through June 2016. A total of 33 serum sample was enrolled in the study. The TLC number was around 300-10.300 cells/mu L and the mean TLC was 2.018,18 cells/mu L (SD 1.871,91 cells/mu L) Result showed that there is correlation between TLC and CD4 (r=0.811, p = 0.000). In conclusion, the TLC can therefore adequately serve as a surrogate marker for CD4 in HIV infected patient in order to ART initiation or to assess disease progression.