Factors affecting CD4 counts
Transient reductions | Diurnal variation in normal donors, reciprocating serum cortisol26 |
Physiological stress (for example, post operative, immediately after exercise,27 or during bereavement)28 | |
Exogenous steroids | |
Cytotoxic drugs | |
Intercurrent infections (for example, urinary tract infection and influenza) | |
Transient increases | Women in follicular phase of the menstrual cycle29 |
Long term reductions | Systemic lupus erythematosus (possibly because of apoptosis30) |
Sarcoidosis (margination into tissues31) | |
Primary immunodeficiencies | |
Long term increases | Smoking29 |