Low CD4+ T-cell count and haematological parameters in patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis, Northwest Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND

Haematological 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 haematological and CD4+ T-cell profiles of patients with CL in Ethiopia.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted from April to July 2022. 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 standardised questionnaire. Complete blood cell and CD4+ T-cell counts were determined by a MicroCC-20 Plus automated haematology analyser and BD FACSPresto, respectively. The data were analysed using SPSS-23 and Graphpad 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] y) with CL and 31 controls were recruited. Most patients (62.5%) had localised CL. Whole blood levels, haematological 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 haematological parameters and CD4+ T-cell count.