Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
T-Lymphocytopenia
Introduction
Idiopathic CD4+ lymphocytopenia (ICL) is a depletion of CD4+ lymphocytes below 300 per cubic millimeter, or less than 20% of total lymphocytes, in the absence of HIV infection or other known causes of immunodeficiency. This is a rare, heterogeneous syndrome and does not appear to be caused by a transmissible agent.[1] People with ICL are susceptible to opportunistic infections, namely, cryptococcus, atypical mycobacterial and Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PCP).
Criteria for diagnosis of idiopathic CD4 lymphocytopenia include:[2]
- CD4 cell count less than 300/mm3 or a CD4 percent less than 20 of total lymphocytes on two or more measurements
- Lack of laboratory evidence of HIV infection
- Absence of an alternative explanation for the CD4 lymphocytopenia
ICL is a rare disease; in 1993, a total of 47 confirmed cases were reported in a survey sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control.[3] In contrast to the CD4 cell depletion caused by HIV, patients with idiopathic CD4 lymphocytopenia generally have a good prognosis.[4][5][6][7]
References
References
- ↑ Online Medical Dictionary entry on T-lymphocytopenia
- ↑ UpToDate article on “Techniques and interpretation of measurement of the CD4 cell count in HIV-infected patients”, by John G. Bartlett. Accessed 30 Oct 2006.
- ↑ Smith D, Neal J, Holmberg S (1993). “Unexplained opportunistic infections and CD4+ T-lymphocytopenia without HIV infection. An investigation of cases in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control Idiopathic CD4+ T-lymphocytopenia Task Force”. N Engl J Med. 328 (6): 373–9. PMID 8093633.
- ↑ Laurence J, Siegal F, Schattner E, Gelman I, Morse S (1992). “Acquired immunodeficiency without evidence of infection with human immunodeficiency virus types 1 and 2”. Lancet. 340 (8814): 273–4. PMID 1353194.
- ↑ Ho D, Cao Y, Zhu T, Farthing C, Wang N, Gu G, Schooley R, Daar E (1993). “Idiopathic CD4+ T-lymphocytopenia–immunodeficiency without evidence of HIV infection”. N Engl J Med. 328 (6): 380–5. PMID 8093634.
- ↑ Spira T, Jones B, Nicholson J, Lal R, Rowe T, Mawle A, Lauter C, Shulman J, Monson R (1993). “Idiopathic CD4+ T-lymphocytopenia–an analysis of five patients with unexplained opportunistic infections”. N Engl J Med. 328 (6): 386–92. PMID 8093635.
- ↑ Duncan R, von Reyn C, Alliegro G, Toossi Z, Sugar A, Levitz S (1993). “Idiopathic CD4+ T-lymphocytopenia–four patients with opportunistic infections and no evidence of HIV infection”. N Engl J Med. 328 (6): 393–8. PMID 8093636.