Background:
Studies on the reference values of CD4 and CD3 T cells in healthy
individuals have continued to gain significance because of the importance of
these immunological markers in the initiation of antiretroviral therapy and
prophylactic drugs for opportunistic infections. These ranges tend to vary
across populations. The CD4:CD8 ratio is used to measure of how balanced immune
function is. Therefore, this study aimed at determining normal reference values for CD4+ and
CD3+T-lymphocytes and leucocytes in healthy adults in Coastal Kenya. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried between May 2015 and February 2016 in Coast
General Referral hospital, Tudor, Port-Reitz, Mlaleo, Likoni and Sub-County
hospitals. Participants were recruited from voluntary HIV counselling and
testing clinics. Patients were counselled for HIV test and those who consented
were tested for HIV. They were screened for diseases that potentially cause
lymphocyte homeostasis perturbation. CD4+, CD3+ CD8+cells/μl were analyzed
using a BD FACSCount flow cytometer (Becton-Dickson, NJ). Results: We
enrolled 500 participants, two hundred and forty (48.0%) were males and two
hundred and sixty (52.0) females. The mean CD4 cell count was 1054.9 ± 95% CI
1041.2 - 1068.6 cells/mm3, absolute CD8 was 688.4 ± 95% CI 679.1 - 697.7
cells/mm3, absolute CD3 cell count was 1945.1 ± 95% CI 1907.4 - 1982.2 cells/mm3 absolute leukocyte count 5.19 ± 95% CI 5.12 - 5.19, absolute lymphocyte count
1.85 ± 95% CI1.83 - 1.88 and haemoglobin level 12.76 ± 95% CI 12.65 - 12.87. Females had
significantly higher mean CD4 and CD8 T cell counts than males (p < 0.05). The mean
values of white blood cells 4.7 (3.0 - 7.9) × 109/l, platelets 239 (77 - 353) × 109/l and erythrocytes 4.65 (3.51 - 5.40) × 109 were significantly higher in males than females (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Immunohaematological markers found in this study were
different from the standard values for the western countries. Females had
significantly higher mean CD4+T and CD3+T cell counts but lower mean
haemoglobin level, erythrocytes, white blood cells and platelets than males.
Our findings provide new insight in the CD4 and CD3 T cell reference values of
Kenyans.
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