Dynamic study of oral Candida infection and immune status in HIV infected patients during HAART

Objective: To dynamically monitor oral Candida infection, CD4(+) T lymphocyte counts, CD8(+) T lymphocyte counts and CD4/CD8 ratios in HIV/AIDS patients during their first year of HAART and to preliminarily explore the relationships between them. Design: Forty-six patients with HIV/AIDS receiving HAART at the Infection Department of Chongqing Red Cross Hospital were followed for one year. At baseline and 3, 6, and 12 months after HAART initiation, oral rinses were collected and cultured to identify Candida species. Further, blood samples were collected to detect CD4(+) T lymphocyte counts, CD8(+) T lymphocyte counts and CD4/CD8 ratios. Results: The prevalence of OC decreased after HAART initiation (P < 0.05), and Candida albicans was the dominant species isolated from the oral cavity (66/93). At 3, 6 and 12 months after HAART initiation, CD4(+) T lymphocyte counts were 327.91 +/- 138.82, 329.65 +/- 142.66 and 319.98 +/- 97.90 cells/mm(3) , respectively, which were significantly higher than the level at baseline (263.39 +/- 126.01 cells/mm(3)) (P = 0.016, P = 0.014, and P = 0.035, respectively). During the first year of HAART, CD4/CD8 ratios increased gradually, and CD8(+) T lymphocyte counts decreased continually. OC was associated with low CD4(+) T lymphocyte counts and a low CD4/CD8 ratio. CD4(+) T lymphocyte counts < 200 cells/mm(3) and Candida load >= 300 CFU/mL were risk factors for OC (P < 0.05), and oral Candida load was negatively correlated with CD4(+) T lymphocyte counts and the CD4/CD8 ratio. Conclusion: OC might be a useful marker for the evaluation of immune status in patients with HIV/AIDS.