Abstract:
Background. To date the effect of pregnancy on the immune activation of CD8 T cells that may affect HIV disease progression
has not been well studied and remains unclear. Objective. To determine the effect of pregnancy on CD8 T lymphocyte activation
and its relationship with CD4 count in HIV infected pregnant women. Study Design. Case control. Study Site. AMPATH and
MTRH in Eldoret, Kenya. Study Subjects. Newly diagnosed asymptomatic HIV positive pregnant and nonpregnant women with
no prior receipt of antiretroviral medications. Study Methods. Blood samples were collected from the study participants and levels
of activated CD8 T lymphocytes (CD38 and HLA-DR) were determined using flow cytometer and correlated with CD4 counts of
the study participants. The descriptive data focusing on frequencies, correlation, and cross-tabulations was statistically determined.
Significance of the results was set at 𝑃 < 0.05. Results. HIV positive pregnant women had lower activated CD8 T lymphocyte counts
than nonpregnant HIV positive women. Activated CD8 T lymphocyte counts were also noted to decrease in the second and third
trimesters of pregnancy. Conclusion. Pregnancy has a significant suppression on CD8+ T lymphocyte immune activation during
HIV infections. Follow-up studies with more control arms could confirm the present study results.