Speaker
Description
Background: Hematological parameters and CD4+ T-cell count are used as indicators of disease severity and treatment response. Ethiopia is one of the cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL)-endemic countries. There is a scarcity of data on the hematological and CD4+ T-cell profiles of patients with CL in Ethiopia.
Objective: To evaluate the change in T-cell and other cellular population of CL cases, compared from controls
Methods: A case control study was conducted from April to July 2022 G.C. This study was conducted at Nefas-Mewcha Hospital Leishmaniasis Treatment Centre. Patients with different clinical presentations of CL were recruited. The controls were from a non-CL endemic area and had neither symptoms nor history of CL. Demographic data were collected by a standardized questionnaire. Complete blood cell and CD4+ T-cell counts were determined by a MicroCC-20 Plus automated hematology analyzer and BD FACS Presto, respectively.
The data were analyzed using SPSS-23 and Graph pad Prism 9.4.1. Statistical difference was considered at p<0.05.
Results: A total of 48 adult patients (41.7% female; median age: 28[18–45] year) with CL and 31 controls were recruited. Most patients (62.5%) had localised CL. Whole blood levels, hematological parameters and CD4+ T cell count were significantly lower in patients than controls. The median value of CD4+ counts was 734.5/mm³ in CL Vs 867.0/mm³ in controls. There was no significant difference in all parameters between patients with different clinical forms.
Conclusions: Patients with CL had significantly lower levels of hematological parameters and CD4+ T-cell count. This deficiency might lead to exposure to disease development.
Recommendation: A controlled experimental study is required to recommend for Health care facilities and treatment centers, that helps to understand the cause for having the disease versus protection in relation to cutaneous leishmaniasis; so that a treatment plan need to be shaped in a way that fill host level deficit
