The Correlation of CD4+ T-Lymphocyte Count and Chemokine Ligand 13 Levels in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Patients Receiving Anti-retrovirus Therapy in Sanglah Central General Hospital

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is an infectious disease caused by the HIV-1 or HIV-2 virus. Cluster of differentiation 4+ (CD4+) T lymphocytes have an important role in the immune process. Chemokine Ligand 13 (CXCL13) is chemotactic for receptor-expressing cells (CXCR5), including B cells and follicular helper (Tfh) T cells. CXCL13 examination can be used to detect HIV antibodies and as a marker of disease progression and monitoring anti-retrovirus therapy (ART) in HIV-infected patients. Giving ART will reduce CXCL13 levels and show B cell activation, so CXCL13 can be used as a new marker of immune or antibody formation during acute or chronic HIV infection. CXCL13 examination can be used to detect HIV antibodies and as a marker of disease progression and monitoring ART in HIV-infected patients. Giving ART will reduce CXCL13 levels and show B cell activation, so CXCL13 can be used as a new marker of immune or antibody formation during acute or chronic HIV infection. AIM: The aim of the study was to propose a study on the relationship between CD4+ T lymphocyte levels and CXCL13 levels in HIV patients who had received ART at the Sanglah Central General Hospital (RSUP), Denpasar. This study was start from March 2021 to August 2021 at the Sanglah Central General Hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study used analytic observational study with a cross-sectional design, conducted at the Voluntary Counseling and Testing and the Clinical Pathology Laboratory at Sanglah Central General Hospital with 55 samples include in inclusion criteria. RESULTS: In this study, the mean age of the research subjects was 42.18 ± 10.31 years with 58.2% male, 41.8% female having received ART with a mean of 63 months. The average number of CD4+ T lymphocytes was 451.53 ± 295.118. Median CXCL13 level was 50,551. The correlation between CXCL13 levels and the number of CD4+ T lymphocytes was −0.209. This correlation was not significant with p = 0.127 (p < 0.05), then partial correlation was performed. The partial correlation of CXCL13 levels and the number of CD4+ T lymphocytes was −0.308, a negative direction indicating there was an inverse correlation. This correlation is a significant with p = 0.023 (p < 0.05) after partial correlation and is in the category of weak correlation. CONCLUSIONS: There are a significant negative correlation after partial correlation of CXCL13 levels and the number of CD4+ T lymphocytes in HIV patients at Sanglah Hospital during the treatment phase.