T-lymphocyte subsets in lung transplant recipients: association between nadir CD4 T-cell count and viral infections after transplantation

Abstract Background Little is known about the kinetics of T-cell subsets in lung transplant recipients (LTR) and their association with the occurrence of opportunistic infections (OI). Objectives To analyze the kinetics of T-lymphocyte subsets in LTR and the association between nadir CD4 T-cell count and viral infections after transplantation. Study design Serial measurements of peripheral blood CD4 and CD8 T-cell counts obtained during the first year post-transplantation from 83 consecutive LTR and their correlation with both viral OI and community-acquired infections post-transplantation were retrospectively analyzed. Results LTR with a nadir CD4 T-cell count 200 cells/μl ( p  200 cells/μl ( p  = 0.0012 and p  = 0.0058, respectively). A nadir CD4 T-cell count p  = 0.0066). Conclusions Stratification of patients according to nadir CD4 T-cell count may represent a new and simple approach for early identification of patients at risk for subsequent virus infections.