Characteristics of natural changes in CD4+lymphocyte counts among untreated HIV-infected patients in central districts of Shanghai / 上海预防医学

ABSTRACT

Objective Objective To explore the characteristics and determinants of natural chan-ges in CD4+lymphocyte counts among HIV -infected patients without previous antiviral therapy in two dis-tricts of Shanghai . [ Methods] A retrospective study was conducted on HIV -infected patients reported from 1987 through May 2013 in two districts of Shanghai , who had received at least twice CD 4+lymphocyte counting tests before antiretroviral treatment ( ART) .The characteristics of natural changes in CD 4+lympho-cyte count and the determinants of significant decrease in count were described . [ Results] A total of 365 patients were included in the study .The monthly rate of CD 4+lymphocyte count changes between the first and the last counting tests had a median of -4.4 (IQR-11.1~0.2).Among them 263(72.1%) showed remarkable decrease in CD 4+lymphocyte counts and 143 ( 39 .2%) presented a significant decrease (≥30%).Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that the age , the first CD4+lymphocyte counts and the interval between the first and the last counting tests were significantly associated with the significant de -crease of CD4+lymphocyte counts among HIV-infected patients. [Conclusion] Natural changes of CD4+lymphocyte counts were gentle as a whole among untreated patients infected with HIV in central districts of Shanghai and rapid decrease in CD 4+lymphocyte counts among some HIV -infected patients was associated with many factors .It is held that CD 4+lymphocyte count and its changing rate should be regularly monitored so as to estimate the progress of the disease and perform targeted behavior intervention and clinic intervention .