African Journal of
Pharmacy and Pharmacology

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Pharm. Pharmacol.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1996-0816
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJPP
  • Start Year: 2007
  • Published Articles: 2288

Full Length Research Paper

Evaluation of CD4+ and CD8+ T-lymphocyte counts and serum levels of immunoglobulins in pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) patients with or without HIV co-infection in South Eastern Nigeri

G. I. Amilo1*, S. C. Meludu2, C. Onyenekwe3, P. U. Ele4, C. Ezechukwu5, G. O. C. Ekejindu6, M. O. Ifeanyichukwu7 and E. Nwobodo8
1Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Nigeria. 2Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Nigeria. 3Department of Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Nigeria. 4Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Nigeria. 5Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Nigeria. 6Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Nigeria. 7Department of Haematology, Faculty of Medicine, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Nigeria. 8Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Nigeria.
Email: [email protected]

  •  Accepted: 28 March 2012
  •  Published: 22 June 2012

Abstract

The prevalence and incidence of tuberculosis (TB) has risen throughout sub-Saharan Africa with increasing human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV) prevalence. TB patients were recruited from some treatment centres in South Eastern Nigeria, and a total number of 133 subjects were recruited for the study. The following parameters, namely, CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell counts, immunoglobulin A (IgA), immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) serum levels were determined using the cytoflow method, Dynal T8 quantitative method as well as single radial immunodiffusion (SRI), respectively. The results showed that the mean CD4+ T-cell count (mm3) (338.34 ± 36.65) and CD8+ T-cell count (mm3) (278.70 ± 27.80) of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) patients with HIV co-infection (PTB + HIV) patients were significantly lower than the mean, CD4+ T-cell count (mm3) (788.18 ± 58.17) and CD8+ T-cell count (mm3) (421.17 ± 30.68) of control subjects. The mean CD4+ T-cell count (mm3) (614.14 ± 58.24) and CD8+ T-cell count (mm3) (388.43 ± 32.07) of PTB patients were significantly lower than those of the control subjects. The mean CD4+ T-cell count (mm3) (388.77 ± 63.62) and CD8+ T-cell count (mm3) (564.18 ± 93.68) of HIV seropositive patients were significantly lower than CD4+ T-cell count of the control subjects, but higher than CD8+ T-cell count of the control subjects (P < 0.05). The mean IgA (mg/dl) level of in PTB patients (234.96 ± 48.00) was significantly higher than those of PTB patients with HIV seropositive (PTB + HIV) (164.01 ± 42.27). The mean IgG (mg/dl) level of PTB + HIV patients (1446.37 ± 277.32) was significantly higher than that of PTB patients (1092.18 ± 114.25). The mean IgM (mg/dl) level in HIV seropositive patients (212.08 ± 22.84) was significantly higher than that of PTB patients (156.69 ± 32.07), PTB + HIV (182.76 ± 46.77) patients and control subjects (93.58 ± 21.18) (P < 0.05). It is therefore evident that PTB infection with or without HIV co-infection significantly affects the immune system response. The immunological changes observed showed that PTB infection might have cause the moderate decrease in CD4+ and CD8+ T-lymphocyte counts, while the decrease is well marked in PTB infection with HIV co-infection.

 

Key words: Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), immunologic changes, immunoglobulins.

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