Measuring HIV p24 protein is a test which is more practical than determination of CD4+ T-lymphocyte counts and viral load, as it does not require a very sophisticated instrument and requires a lower cost. Independent predictive value of p24 to the decline of CD4+ T-lymphocytes, clinical progression and survival in HIV-infected patients have been reported. In this study, HIV-infected patients were found to have HIV p24 protein levels inversely proportional to CD4+ T-lymphocyte counts by using Spearman test (R2=0.225; p=0.0331). Studies on the correlation between HIV p24 protein levels and CD4+ T-lymphocyte counts in stage I HIV infection have not yet been reported. The aim of this study was to prove the correlation between HIV p24 protein levels and CD4+ T-lymphocytes in stage I HIV infection. Research issue was whether a correlation between HIV p24 protein levels and CD4+ T-lymphocyte counts in stage I HIVinfection existed ? The hypothesis was that a correlation between HIV p24 protein levels and CD4+ T-lymphocyte counts in stage I HIV infection existed. The study design was cross sectional observational. Subjects consisted of 30 stage I HIV-infected patients treated at the Infectious Disease Intermediate Care Unit, Dr. Soetomo Hospital and VCT Clinic of the Dr. Ramelan Naval Hospital, Surabaya from May to July 2014. Stage I HIV infection is an asymptomatic HIV infection or with persistent generalized lymphadenopathy and the patient is able to perform normal activities. Levels of p24 were measured by ELISA method and CD4+ T-lymphocyte counts using flowcytometry(BD FACSCaliburTM). The results were statistically analyzed using Pearson’s correlation test. HIV p24 protein levels in stage I of HIV infection ranged from 1.8 to 10.8 pg/mL, mean of 5.14 pg/mL and a standard deviation of 2.08 pg/mL. CD4+ T-lymphocyte counts decreased with a range of 49-559 cells /uL for absolute values and 4.42–26.02% for percentage values Correlations between blood p24 levels and CD4+ T-lymphocyte counts either absolute (r=–0.392, p=0.032) or percentage (r=–0.363, p=0.049) were found. In stage I HIV-infected patients, a negative correlation was found between p24 levels and CD4+ T-lymphocyte counts, in both CD4+T-lymphocyte counts as absolute and as well as percentage values. This negative correlation showed that the p24 HIV levels were inversely proportional to the CD4+ T-lymphocyte counts. HIV p24 protein levels have a possibility to be used predicting CD4+ T-lymphocyte counts
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