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Comparison of WBC Counts in HIV Positive Patients with Sepsis and HIV-Negative Patients with the Same Condition Admitted to the Emergency Department of Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran
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Iman Abbaspour   |
| Department of Radiology |
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Abstract: (27 Views) |
Background: White blood cell count, and especially leukocytosis, is a key element in the diagnostic criteria for sepsis. Although HIV-infected patients usually have lower white blood cell counts due to decreased lymphocyte counts, no specific leukocyte count criteria have been established for sepsis diagnosis.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a university referral hospital and involved HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients who presented to the emergency department with sepsis and met the inclusion criteria. Demographic and clinical parameters of patients, white blood cell count, hemoglobin level, platelet count, serum ESR and CRP levels were collected and compared between the two groups.
Results: A total of 60 HIV-positive and 60 HIV-negative patients, all diagnosed with sepsis syndrome were enrolled in the study. The mean white blood cell count was significantly lower in HIV-positive patients compared with the HIV-negative group (5327 cells/mm3 vs. 12627 cells/mm3; p-value = 0.000). Moreover, the mean hemoglobin level was lower in the HIV-positive group (9.3 g/dL, p. = 0.000), and HIV-positive patients had a lower mean platelet count (185,000/ml vs. 230,000/ml) (p-value = 0.033). The mean serum CRP level in HIV-positive patients was lower than in the HIV-negative group (56 mg/L vs. 77 mg/L, p-value = 0.015). The mean ESR levels and vital signs (blood pressure, body temperature, heart rate, and respiratory rate) did not differ significantly between the two groups.
Conclusion: The findings of our study showed that white blood cell count is probably not a reliable variable for diagnosing sepsis in HIV-positive patients, but other clinical criteria of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), including temperature, heart rate, and respiratory rate are more valid for this purpose.
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| Keywords: AIDS, Inflammatory Factors, Sepsis, White blood cells |
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Full-Text [PDF 657 kb]
(12 Downloads)
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Type of Study: Applicable |
Subject:
General
Received: 2025/08/9 | Accepted: 2025/01/29 | Published: 2025/01/29
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