European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CD4 T CELLS AND VIRAL LOAD AMONG HIV INFECTED PATIENTS AT TRIBHUVAN UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL – A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL, NEPAL

Pramila K. C.*

ABSTRACT

Background: The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between CD4 T cells and HIV viral load among HIV infected patients at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital. Methodology: A hospital based retrospective study was carried out in 66 patients of age ≥18 years receiving ART from Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal. Information was noted into data collection sheet such as demographic information and required laboratory outcomes (CD4 T cells and Viral load count). Results: The majority of patients were female (50%). The age group 28-37 years (37.9%) was the most infected group. There was not significant association between viral load and CD4 count at baseline (p>0.05) but had significant association at one year (p<0.05). Conclusion: The largest groups of infected patients were female. However it was almost equal. There was not significant relationship between reduced viral load and improved CD4 count at baseline but observed significance at one year.

Keywords: Human immune deficiency virus, Antiretroviral Therapy (ART), CD4 count, viral load.