Intestinal parasitic infections in relation to CD4+ T cell counts and diarrhea in HIV/AIDS patients with or without antiretroviral therapy in Cameroon

T-cell reduction is an important characteristic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and its immunopathology is a subject of debate. It may be due to the direct effect of the virus on T-cell exhaustion or indirectly due to T cells redistributing to the lungs. HIV/AIDS naturally served as a T-cell exhaustion disease model for recognizing how the immune system works in the course of COVID-19. In this study, we collected the clinical charts, T-lymphocyte analysis, and chest CT of HIV patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infection who were admitted to Jin Yin-tan Hospital (Wuhan, China). The median age of the 21 patients was 47 years [interquartile range (IQR) = 40–50 years] and the median CD4 T-cell count was 183 cells/μl (IQR = 96–289 cells/μl). Eleven HIV patients were in the non-AIDS stage and 10 were in the AIDS stage. Nine patients received antiretroviral treatment (ART) and 12 patients did not receive any treatment. Compared to the reported mortality rate (nearly 4%–10%) and severity rate (up to 20%–40%) among COVID-19 patients in hospital, a benign duration with 0% severity and mortality rates was shown by 21 HIV/AIDS patients. The severity rates of COVID-19 were comparable between non-AIDS (median CD4 = 287 cells/μl) and AIDS (median CD4 = 97 cells/μl) patients, despite some of the AIDS patients having baseline lung injury stimulated by HIV: 7 patients (33%) were mild (five in the non-AIDS group and two in the AIDS group) and 14 patients (67%) were moderate (six in the non-AIDS group and eight in the AIDS group). More importantly, we found that a reduction in T-cell number positively correlates with the serum levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP), which is contrary to the reported findings on the immune response of COVID-19 patients (lower CD4 T-cell counts with higher levels of IL-6 and CRP). In HIV/AIDS, a compromised immune system with lower CD4 T-cell counts might waive the clinical symptoms and inflammatory responses, which suggests lymphocyte redistribution as an immunopathology leading to lymphopenia in COVID-19.

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Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among people living with HIV/AIDS visiting a central hospital of Kathmandu Nepal

Asian Journal of Medical Sciences ◽

10.3126/ajms.v8i5.17731 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 8 (5) ◽

pp. 87-92 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Homa Nath Sharma ◽

Bimal Shama Chalise ◽

Ganesh Rai ◽

Nabaraj Adhikari ◽

Anup Bastola ◽

...

Keyword(s):

T Cell ◽

Intestinal Parasites ◽

Parasitic Infection ◽

Cd4 T Cell ◽

Parasitic Infections ◽

People Living With Hiv ◽

Hiv Patients ◽

Cell Counts ◽

Living With Hiv ◽

Hiv Aids

Backgrounds: Intestinal Parasitic Infection (IPI) plays a vital role in the prognosis of People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA).Aims and Objectives: In this study, we aimed to measure the prevalence and associated factors of IPI among PLHA and non-HIV patients attending Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital, Teku, Kathmandu.Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 193 PLHA and 111 non-HIV patients having either of gastrointestinal disorders. Direct smear, Formalin ethyl acetate sedimentation and Kinyoun’s modified acid fast staining methods were applied to detect intestinal parasites from stool samples and CD4 T-cell counts of PLHA was recorded from ART centre of hospital.Results: The overall prevalence of IPI was found to be 16.12% (19.17% in PLHA and 10.81% in non-HIV subjects). Prevalence was higher in PLHA (p<0.06) in which poly parasitic infection was common (24%) with the protozoa predominating over helminths. CD4 T-cell counts <200/μl (p<0.06) and diarrhoea (p<0.06) were associated with increased IPI in PLHA. Cryptosporidium parvum was found in 19.05% cases of PLHA having CD4 T-cell counts <200/μl.Conclusions: The higher prevalence of opportunistic protozoa among PLHA indicates the need of routine parasitic investigation using sensitive methods so that it will be helpful for the proper therapeutic management.Asian Journal of Medical Sciences Vol.8(5) 2017 87-92

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Low CD4+ T cell counts are not risk factor for Malassezia species infection in HIV/AIDS patients

Journal of thee Medical Sciences (Berkala Ilmu Kedokteran) ◽

10.19106/jmedscie004604201401 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 46 (04) ◽

pp. 153-160

Author(s):

Epi Panjaitan ◽

Satiti Retno Pudjiati ◽

Agnes Sri Siswati

Keyword(s):

Risk Factor ◽

T Cell ◽

Cd4 T Cell ◽

Aids Patients ◽

Malassezia Species ◽

Cell Counts ◽

Hiv Aids

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Magnitude of Anemia and Associated Factors among Pediatric HIV/AIDS Patients Attending Zewditu Memorial Hospital ART Clinic, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Anemia ◽

10.1155/2015/479329 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 2015 ◽

pp. 1-6 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Hylemariam Mihiretie ◽

Bineyam Taye ◽

Aster Tsegaye

Keyword(s):

T Cell ◽

Associated Factors ◽

Addis Ababa ◽

Pediatric Hiv ◽

Cd4 T Cell ◽

Memorial Hospital ◽

Aids Patients ◽

Cell Counts ◽

Prevalence Of Anemia ◽

Hiv Aids

Background. Anemia is one of the most commonly observed hematological abnormalities and an independent prognostic marker of HIV disease. The aim of this study was to determine the magnitude of anemia and associated factors among pediatric HIV/AIDS patients attending Zewditu Memorial Hospital (ZMH) ART Clinic in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted among pediatric HIV/AIDS patients of Zewditu Memorial Hospital (ZMH) between August 05, 2013, and November 25, 2013. A total of 180 children were selected consecutively. Stool specimen was collected and processed. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on sociodemographic characteristics and associated risk factors. Data were entered into EpiData 3.1.1. and were analyzed using SPSS version 16 software. Logistic regressions were applied to assess any association between explanatory factors and outcome variables.Results. The total prevalence of anemia was 22.2% where 21 (52.5%), 17 (42.5%), and 2 (5.0%) patients had mild, moderate, and severe anemia. There was a significant increase in severity and prevalence of anemia in those with CD4+ T cell counts below 350 cells/μL (P<0.05). Having intestinal parasitic infections (AOR = 2.7, 95% CI, 1.1–7.2), having lower CD4+ T cell count (AOR = 3.8, 95% CI, 1.6–9.4), and being HAART naïve (AOR = 2.3, 95% CI, 1.6–9.4) were identified as significant predictors of anemia.Conclusion. Anemia was more prevalent and severe in patients with low CD4+ T cell counts, patients infected with intestinal parasites/helminthes, and HAART naïve patients. Therefore, public health measures and regular follow-up are necessary to prevent anemia.

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