RESUMEN
Objective To investigate the effect of enteral nutrition (EN) on the T lymphocytes-mediated immune function in patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Methods Totally 79 AIDS patients were randomly divided into enteral nutrition ( EN ) group ( supported with EN daily in addition to conventional treatment; n = 46) and control group (underwent conventional treatment only; n = 33 ). T lymphocytes including CD3, CD4, and CD8 cells as well as blood biochemical parameters including alanine aminotransferase ( ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), glucose ( Glu ), total protein (TP), albumin ( ALB ), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) , Cr, and prealbumin (PA) were determined immediately before management (T0) and on the 30th day(T1). Results ALT, AST, Glu, TP, ALB, BUN, Cr, and PA showed no significant differences between these two groups before management ( all P ＞ 0. 05 ). The levels of TP ( P = 0. 015), ALB ( P = 0. 007 ), and PA ( P =0. 022 ) were significantly higher in EN group than those in control group at T1. The cell counts of CD3, CD4, and CD8 were not significantly different at T0, while the cell count of CD4 was significantly higher in EN group than that in control group at T1 ( P ＜ 0. 05 ). Conclusion EN can improve the nutritional status and T lymphocytesmediated immune function in AIDS patients.