Introduction
CD4-receptors containing cells are the portal of entry of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and the rate of CD4 cell destruction is directly proportional to progressive replication of HIV. Immune system destruction is inevitable if the rate of HIV replications outstrips the CD4 cells available. The mechanism of CD4 cell destruction is dependent on whether HIV infection is in acute or chronic phase.1
Destruction of CD4 cells is affected by cytotoxic T cells and apoptosis in the acute phase, while inability of the immune system to produce new T cells and generalized immune activation accounts for the CD4 cell depletion in chronic phase.2
CD4 T-lymphocytes and other lymphocytes coordinate the immune system response to pathogens.3 In HIV-infected individuals, the CD4+ cell count provides a picture of immune system health, with higher CD4 counts typically signifying healthier immune systems. Pregnancy is associated with altered immunity, and it may worsen the immunosuppression associated with an HIV infection.4 However, Saada et al reported that pregnancy in HIV-infected women did not cause deterioration in CD4 count.5 This study may bring to the fore variability in CD4+ cell counts as a result of pregnancy and HIV. It may also offer explanations for these differences.
Materials and methods
Study design
A retrospective study was carried out at the antenatal clinics of the Maternal and Child Center at Ifako Ijaiye General Hospital in Lagos State, Nigeria, amongst patients who registered from January 2011 to February 2014. Ethics approval was obtained from the institution's Health Research and Ethics Committee. Data retrieved included CD4 count at booking, packed cell volume (PCV) at booking, during labor and discharge, gestational age at delivery, and infant weight and sex. All the patients were highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART)-experienced because of Prevention of Maternal to Child Transmission.
The descriptive data was given as mean ± standard deviation (SD). Pearson's chi-squared test and correlation were used for analytical assessment. The differences were considered statistically significant when the P-value obtained was <0.05.
Results
A total of 143 records were retrieved. The mean age was 31.15±3.78 years, with a minimum of 23 and maximum of 47 years. Stratifying maternal ages indicated that ten (6.7%) were between 20–24 years, 37 (24.7%) were between 25–29 years, and 96 (64%) were older than 30 years; all were older than 20 years. The booking PCV was 31.01%±3.79%, with a minimum of 22% and maximum of 47%. The mean PCV during labor was 30.49%±4.80%, with a minimum of 18% and maximum of 40%.
The mean CD4 count was 413.87±212.09 cells/μL. The minimum CD4 count was 40 cells/μL, and maximum was 1,252 cells/μL. The mean infant weight was 3.05±0.45 kg, with a minimum of 2 kg and maximum of 5 kg (Table 1).
Enlarge this image.Table 1 Parameters Abbreviations: PCV, packed cell volume; SD, standard deviation.
A total of one 140 babies were delivered, consisting of 76 (50.7%) males and 74 (49.3%) females. The majority of the deliveries were spontaneous vertex deliveries (79 of 150 [52.7%]), while 71 (47.3%) required emergency cesarean section.
The age of the pregnant woman, gestational age, and PCV at booking, when compared with CD4 count of the participants, were not statistically significant by Pearson's chi-squared test (P-values were 0.11, 0.12, and 0.46, respectively). Stratified maternal ages were also not statistically significant when compared with CD4 count of the participants (P=0.35). However, they all correlated positively using Pearson's correlation test (r= 0.18, 0.27, 0.01, and 0.12, respectively) (Table 2).
Discussion
Immunity in pregnancy is physiologically compromised and may affect the CD4+ cell count, as lower CD4+ cell count has been reported in pregnant compared with nonpregnant females.4 The reference range for the CD4+ cell count amongst Nigerians was reported earlier by Aina et al6 and Oladepo7 et al, and the effects of various variables on CD4+ cell count levels in pregnancy were highlighted. This study considered and established that maternal age, gestational age, and PCV at booking did not influence the CD4+ cell count in HIV-infected pregnant women.
This study population fell in the age range of 23–47 years. Stratified maternal ages and CD4+ cell counts were found to be insignificantly related, and this was contrary to the study of Abimiku et al,8 which reported, in 2009, that low CD4+ cell count was significantly associated with older age, lack of condom use, history of genital ulcers, and history of vaginal discharge.
CD4+ cell count is highest during the early years of life. It declines steadily to stable adult values, and it is lowest in the elderly.9 However, Aina et al6 reported that in pregnant women, unlike men and nonpregnant females, the odds of having a low CD4+ cell cell count were significantly related to both age by decade and age at marriage by decade. They suggested that the effect of marriage age may be due to prolonged exposure to sexually transmitted diseases and other infections, with the development of chronic lymphocytosis, in women who got married earlier.
This study also reported an insignificant association between CD4+ cell count and gestational age. Gestational age may or may not affect CD4+ cell count, as some authors reported an increase in CD4+ cells count as gestational age increased.10 Another study reported no relationship exists between gestational age and CD4+ cell count in both HIV-positive and HIV-negative women.11 However, Gomo et al12 reported a decline in CD4+ cell count, by 25 cells/μL for each week increase in gestation, among women with low serum retinol.
The mean CD4+ cell count of 413.87±212.09 cells/μL reported in this study is similar to 402 cells/μL, reported by Myer et al13 in 2013. A lower value, of 323.7±170.7 cells/μL in HIV-positive pregnant women, was obtained in Nigeria by Ekwempu et al.14 From these data, one may generate a range of mean CD4 count, between 323.7–413.8 cells/μL, in HIV-positive pregnant women.
The mean CD4+ value of 413.87 cells/μL obtained in HIV-positive pregnant women in this study is higher than the mean 317.55±254.72 cells/μL reported by Akinbami et al15 in nonpregnant HIV-positive women. Use of HAART by participants in the present study could be responsible for the higher CD4+ cell values obtained than those reported in the nonpregnant HIV-positive women, who were HAART-naïve, in the previous study. Both values are, however, almost half of the 771 cells/μL obtained in HIV-negative pregnant women by Akinbami et al16 and Aina et al.6 The CD4 cell count could also be compared with values obtained in nonpregnant HIV-seronegative women, of 828 cells/μL and 847 cells/μL, obtained by Aina et al6 and Oladepo et al,7 respectively. A marginal difference, of between 57–76 cells/μL, was observed in HIV-negative pregnant women and nonpregnant HIV-seronegative women, unlike a 50% reduction in CD4+ cells found between HIV-positive pregnant women/nonpregnant HIV-positive women15 and either HIV-negative pregnant women16 or nonpregnant HIV-seronegative women.6 This brings to the fore the effects of HIV on CD4+ count value. The marked drop in CD4+ cell count as a result of HIV infection, in the presence or absence of pregnancy, is explainable by the fact that viral replication starts within cells with CD4 receptors at the site of HIV entry. The infected cells can then release virions by surface budding, and infected cells undergo lysis, with release of new HIV virions, which can then infect additional cells.
A CD4+ cell count reference range of 40–1252 cells/μL was obtained in this study. The lower limit of 40 cells/μL for the CD4 counts obtained in the study may be a reflection of the study by Abimiku et al,8 which reported 36.6% of HIV-positive pregnant Nigerian women had CD4+ cell counts of ≤200 cells/μL. Underlying infectious diseases have been associated with decreased CD4 levels.17 The pregnant women in this study were not screened for any underlying infectious diseases, eg, pulmonary tuberculosis, which could impact on the result. However, the upper limit of 1,252 cells/μL obtained in our study is similar to the 1,314 cells/μL upper limit reported by Aina et al6 amongst HIV-negative pregnant women.
Conclusion
Maternal age, gestational age, and PCV at booking had no significant effects on CD4+ cell count levels in pregnancy. The mean CD4+ cell count of HIV-positive pregnant women in Lagos is 413.87±212.09 cells/μL.
Acknowledgments
We acknowledge the duo of Fatimoh Mohmoh and the late Blessing Otong, who assisted greatly in data retrieval.
Author contributions
AA was responsible for conceptualization and design of the study. AG performed the literature search. IE performed data entry. AO performed data analysis. SO and PO reviewed the manuscript. All authors contributed toward data analysis, drafting and revising the paper and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.
Disclosure
The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.
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Akinsegun A Akinbami,1 Abidoye Gbadegesin,2 Sarah O Ajibola,3 Ebele I Uche,1 Adedoyin O Dosunmu,1 Adewumi Adediran,4 Adekunle Sobande2
1Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, 2Department Of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, College of Medicine, Lagos State University, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria; 3Department of Haematology and Immunology, Ben-Carson School of Medicine, Babcock University, Ilisan, Ogun State, Nigeria; 4Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria
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