Preliminary observations on lymphocyte subpopulations in HIV seropositive a HIV seronegative tuberculosis patients in Pune, India

CD4 and CD8 lymphocyte counts were determined in 59 HIV seropositive and 41 HIV seronegative newly diagnosed tuberculosis patients in Pune. There were significant differences in the CD4 counts and CD4/CD8 ratios between HN se ropositive and HIV seronegative tuberculosis patients. Majority of the HIV seropositive patients had a CD4 count less than 500 cells/cu.mm, whereas am ong the HIV seronegative patients, majority had a CD3 count mole than 500 c ells/cu.mm. In HIV seropositive patients with extrapulmonary and pulmonary tuberculosis, the CD3 counts were lower than in those who had only pulmonar y. or extrapulmonary tuberculosis. There was no significant differences in the CDS counts between HIV seropositive and HIV seronegative tuberculosis p atients, except for patients with pulmonary cavity, where the CD8 counts we re significantly higher in HIV seropositive tuberculosis patients. In HIV s eropositiue individuals with pulmonary tuberculosis, the CD8 counts in thos e with pulmonary cavity were higher than in those without any pulmonary cav ity. Absence of cavitation and presence of pulmonary with extrapulmonary tu berculosis occurred when immune activation was at a lower level.