AEGiS-15IAC: Relationship between malaria parasitaemia and level of immuno-suppression (CD4+ Cell Count) in HIV infected Nigerians.

15th International AIDS Conference

Bangkok, Thailand - July 11-16, 2004

Relationship between malaria parasitaemia and level of immuno-suppression (CD4+ Cell Count) in HIV infected Nigerians.

Int Conf AIDS 2004 Jul 11-16; 15:(abstract no. A10330)

Lemoha EN, Akanmu AS, Aniedobe MN, Oparaugo CT, Nathan E, Mafe AG, Audu RA, Idigbe EO, Ejezie C
Nigerian Institute of Medical Research , Lagos state, Nigeria

BACKGROUND: Severity of Malaria Infection has been shown to related to the Immune Status of an Individual. If Immunity (CD4+ cell Count) were depressed in HIV infected Individuals, it would be expected that Malaria Infection would become more severe. This study was therefore carried out to determine if there is any strong association between Malaria parasitaemia and CD4+ cell count.

METHODS: A total of 115 Nigerians consisting of 63 Males and 52 females with age range studied. These subjects were recruited from 2 hospitals in Lagos Metropolis. CD4 was estimated by the use of Dynal T4 Quant Technique. All samples were screened for Malaria parasite and Malaria density was determined by WHO method. The control group were subjects who have HIV infection but not infected with malaria. This is to help in concluding that the increase or decrease in the CD4 Count in the study group is due to complication with Malaria infection. The data obtained was calculated statically with Microsoft excel.

RESULTS: Of 115 patients studied, 87 were positive for P. Falciparium and 28 were negative. The mean CD4+ cell count for P. Falciparium positive patients was 208±108 cells/mul. For those that tested negative, the mean CD4 cell count was 416 ±86.65 cells/mul. This difference in mean was statistically significant, P=5.89x10-9. None of the 28 subjects that tested negative for malaria parasite is severely immunosuppressed. Where as 59 of 87 patients (67.8%) who are positive for malaria parasite were severely immunosuppressed i2=196.866, P=1.0871x10-44.

CONCLUSION: The severe the immunosuppression in an HIV infected patients, the greater the likelihood of recurrent Malaria Infection.

Keywords: AEGIS, CD4 Lymphocyte Count, HIV Seropositivity, Parasitemia, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Malaria, HIV Infections, Humans, Female, Male, pathogenicity, diagnosis

040711
A10330