From the Guidelines
CD8 absolute count is not recommended for routine clinical decision making in HIV management, as stated in the 2014 guidelines by the HIV Medicine Association of the Infectious Diseases Society of America 1.
CD8 Absolute Count
CD8 absolute count refers to the total number of CD8+ T lymphocytes in a blood sample, typically reported as cells per microliter (cells/μL).
- Normal CD8 absolute values generally range from 150-1000 cells/μL in adults, though reference ranges may vary slightly between laboratories.
- This measurement is important for assessing immune function, particularly in HIV/AIDS monitoring, where it's used alongside CD4 counts to evaluate disease progression and immune status.
- A low CD8 count may indicate immunosuppression from conditions like HIV infection, certain medications, or congenital immune disorders.
- Elevated CD8 counts can occur during acute viral infections, certain autoimmune conditions, or some lymphoproliferative disorders.
Clinical Decision Making
When interpreting CD8 absolute values, they should be considered alongside CD4 counts and the CD4:CD8 ratio, which normally ranges from 1-4 in healthy individuals.
- Changes in CD8 counts over time are often more clinically meaningful than single measurements, particularly when monitoring response to treatments or disease progression.
- However, according to the 2014 guidelines by the HIV Medicine Association of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, measurement of the CD8 cell count and the ratio of CD4 cells to CD8 cells is unnecessary as the results are not used in clinical decision making 1.
- This recommendation is also supported by the 2009 guidelines, which state that measurement of the CD8 cell count and the ratio of CD4 cells to CD8 cells should not be used in clinical decision making 1.
Recent Studies
A more recent study in 2018 discussed the use of CD8+ T cells as a biomarker in cancer immunotherapy, highlighting the importance of standardizing and validating biomarkers for routine clinical use 1.
- However, this study does not change the recommendation for HIV management, as the 2014 guidelines by the HIV Medicine Association of the Infectious Diseases Society of America remain the most relevant and up-to-date guidance for this specific context 1.
From the Research
CD8 Cells Absolute
- The provided studies do not directly address the topic of CD8 cells absolute [ 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 ].
- However, study 6 discusses the normalization of CD4+ T-cell count, percentage, and CD4+/CD8+ T-cell ratio in HIV-infected patients on long-term suppressive antiretroviral therapy, which may be related to CD8 cells.
- According to study 6, factors influencing the normalization of CD4+ T-cell count, percentage, and CD4+/CD8+ T-cell ratio include absolute CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell counts, %CD4+ T cells, and a higher CD4+/CD8+ T-cell ratio.
- Study 4 mentions that the estimated glomerular filtration rate remained unchanged over 48 weeks in both arms, and a decrease in fasting triglycerides was observed at 48 weeks in the EFV/FTC/TDF vs. SBR arm, but does not provide information on CD8 cells absolute.
- Studies 2, 3, 5 focus on the efficacy and safety of antiretroviral therapies, but do not provide information on CD8 cells absolute.