Table 3

Laboratory data of all severely malnourished children aged <60 months grouped by their HIV status.


HIV-positive median (IQR)
n = 123
HIV-negative median (IQR)
n = 192

Haemoglobin
7.8 (6.4–9.2)
8.1 (6.5–9.6)
Total WBC (109/L)
8.9 (5.4–11.3)
9.1 (7.2–13.5)**
Neutrophils (109/L)
4.9 (2.8–8.0)
5.9 (3.4–8.9)
Neutrophils (%)
59 (35–71)
55 (41–65)
Monocytes (109/L)
0.22 (0.11–0.94)
0.28 (0.15–0.53)
Monocytes (%)
2 (1.8–7.5)
2 (1.8–5)
Total lymphocytes (109/L)
2.9 (2.1–4.9)
4.5 (2.9–6.3)**
Lymphocytes (%)
39 (26–50)
40 (32–50)
CD4+ cell count (106/L)
497 (280–1379)
1265 (829–1758)***
CD4+ cells (%)
18 (12–34)
33 (26–40)***
CD8+ cell count (106/L)
880 (490–1750)
588 (331–913)***
CD8+ cells (%)
31 (23–50)
15 (13–21)***
CD4+/CD8+ ratio
0.76 (0.24–1.19)
2.0 (1.5–2.8)***

*p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, and *** p < 0.001

Bachou et al. Nutrition Journal 2006 5:27   doi:10.1186/1475-2891-5-27