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. 2006 Aug 17:3:20.
doi: 10.1186/1742-6405-3-20.

Predicting AIDS-related events using CD4 percentage or CD4 absolute counts

Yasmin Pirzada  1 , Sadik Khuder, Haig Donabedian
Affiliations

Predicting AIDS-related events using CD4 percentage or CD4 absolute counts

Yasmin Pirzada et al. AIDS Res Ther. .

Abstract

Background: The extent of immunosuppression and the probability of developing an AIDS-related complication in HIV-infected people is usually measured by the absolute number of CD4 positive T-cells. The percentage of CD4 positive cells is a more easily measured and less variable number. We analyzed sequential CD4 and CD8 numbers, percentages and ratios in 218 of our HIV infected patients to determine the most reliable predictor of an AIDS-related event.

Results: The CD4 percentage was an unsurpassed predictor of the occurrence of AIDS-related events when all subsets of patients are considered. The CD4 absolute count was the next most reliable, followed by the ratio of CD4/CD8 percentages. The value of CD4 percentage over the CD4 absolute count was seen even after the introduction of highly effective HIV therapy.

Conclusion: The CD4 percentage is unsurpassed as a parameter for predicting the onset of HIV-related diseases. The extra time and expense of measuring the CD4 absolute count may be unnecessary.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The time to event in months is plotted against the CD4 absolute (A and C) or the CD4 percentage (B and D). The patients who initially presented with an AIDS-related event were censored. The curves were plotted for patients initially seen before 1995 (A and B) and after 1995 (C and D).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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