Immunological Markers and Hematological Parameters among Newly Diagnosed Tuberculosis Patients at Jimma University Specialized Hospital

BACKGROUND Tuberculosis (TB) is a cause of 1.2-1.5 million deaths worldwide, including deaths from TB among HIV positive people. Determining the extent of immune cells belonging to cell mediated immunity and haematological parameters is critical to maximize the potential benefit of anti-tubercular treatment and case management. MATERIALS AND METHODS Comparative cross sectional study was conducted to determine the white blood cell (WBC) count, CD4, CD8, haemoglobin (Hgb), red blood cell (RBC) count, mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCHC), mean corpuscular volume (MCV) between newly diagnosed TB patients and apparently healthy controls (HCs). RESULTS From consecutively enrolled 108 TB patients, pulmonary TB (PTB) accounted for 48(44.4%), TB lymphadenitis accounted for 48(44.4%), and disseminated/miliary TB accounted for 12(11.1%). Analysis of variance revealed that mean ± SD of CD4 count of male TB patients (650 ± 224cells/µl) was significantly lower than male control group (883 ± 256 cells/µl) (p= 0.001). In a similar manner, the mean CD4 count of female TB patients (793 ± 332cells/µl) was lower than female control group (975 ± 300 cells/µl) (p=0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in CD8 counts between cases and controls for both genders. Forty (37.0%) TB patients had developed anaemia of whom 22(55%) were among PTB, 13(32.5%) from tuberculous lymphadenitis and 5(20%) from disseminated TB. Morphologically, from all anaemia among TB patients, normocytic normochromic anaemia accounted for 15(37.5%) followed by normocytic hypochromic anaemia 13(30.4%). CONCLUSION CD4 lymphopenia was significant among TB patients. Granulocyte count was increased. Mild anaemia was found major haematological abnormality among newly diagnosed TB patients.