Abstract

Objective: To determine the use of total lymphocyte count as a surrogate marker for CD4+ cell count among HIV infected patients at the University of Gondar Hospital. Methods: A retrospective cross sectional study was conducted at the University of Gondar Hospital antiretroviral therapy laboratory from December 2011 to May 2012. Data on CD4+ cell count, total lymphocyte count, sex, and age were collected from 2964 HIV infected patients and analyzed using SPSS version 16 computer software. Results: Total lymphocyte count was significantly correlated with CD4+ cell count (P<0.001; r 2 =0.434). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value of total lymphocyte count<1 200 cells/mm3 to predict CD4+ cell count <200 cells/mm3 was 57.8%, 86.4%%, 34.1%, 86.39%, respectively. A total lymphocyte count<1 000cells/mm3 was found to have suboptimal sensitivity (69.0%), and specificity (85.0%) for predicting a CD4+ cell count <200 cells/ mm 3 . Conclusions: Total lymphocyte count and CD4+ cell count was positively correlated. Hence, lymphocyte count less than or equal to 1 000/mm3 can be used as a cutoff value in place where there is no CD4+ cell counting machine.

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