Document 0378
 DOCN  M9460378
 TI    Using CD4 counts to evaluate the stages and epidemiology of HIV
       infection in South Carolina public clinic patients.
 DT    9404
 AU    Luby S; Jones J; Horan J; Division of Field Epidemiology, Centers for
       Disease Control and; Prevention, Atlanta, Ga 30333.
 SO    Am J Public Health. 1994 Mar;84(3):377-81. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/94175179
 AB    OBJECTIVES. CD4 lymphocyte counts decrease with the duration of human
       immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. We used CD4 counts collected for
       clinical reasons to evaluate the stage of HIV infection and the
       epidemiology of recent HIV infections among attendees of South
       Carolina's public health clinics. METHODS. We measured the CD4
       T-lymphocyte counts of persons newly diagnosed with HIV infection April
       1989 through June 1990 at South Carolina public health clinics who
       returned for follow-up. RESULTS. Of 812 newly diagnosed HIV-infected
       health department patients, 420 (52%) had their CD4 lymphocyte counts
       measured. Of these 420, 51 (12%) had CD4 counts of < 200, the level
       below which prophylaxis for pneumocystis pneumonia prolongs survival,
       and 193 (46%) had CD4 counts of < 500, the level below which zidovudine
       may prolong disease-free survival. The highest CD4 counts (> or = 900),
       which are associated with more recent HIV infection, were more common in
       females. CONCLUSIONS. In South Carolina, almost half of newly reported
       HIV-infected persons who agreed to CD4 testing at the health department
       might benefit from immediate drug therapy. Within this population, women
       may be an emerging risk group that requires specifically directed HIV
       prevention efforts.
 DE    Adolescence  Adult  Ambulatory Care Facilities  Female  Human  HIV
       Infections/EPIDEMIOLOGY/*IMMUNOLOGY  Leukocyte Count  Male  Public
       Health  Retrospective Studies  Risk Factors  Sex Behavior  South
       Carolina/EPIDEMIOLOGY  Substance Abuse, Intravenous  *T4 Lymphocytes
       JOURNAL ARTICLE

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).