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| Year : 2020 | Volume
: 66
| Issue : 4 | Page : 227 |
Reply to Letter to Editor regarding the article, “Idiopathic CD4+ T lymphocytopenia: A case report”
S Umamaheshwari1, MN Sumana2, MS Shetty3, S Gopal1
1 Department of Studies in Microbiology, University of Mysore, Manasagangotri, Mysuru, Karnataka, India
2 Department of Microbiology, JSS Medical College and Hospital, Mysuru, Karnataka, India
3 Department of Surgical Gastroenterology, JSS Medical College and Hospital, Mysuru, Karnataka, India
| Date of Submission | 04-Jul-2020 |
| Date of Decision | 31-Jul-2020 |
| Date of Acceptance | 20-Aug-2020 |
| Date of Web Publication | 27-Oct-2020 |
Correspondence Address:
S Umamaheshwari
Department of Studies in Microbiology, University of Mysore, Manasagangotri, Mysuru, Karnataka
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/jpgm.JPGM_782_20
How to cite this article:
Umamaheshwari S, Sumana M N, Shetty M S, Gopal S. Reply to Letter to Editor regarding the article, “Idiopathic CD4+ T lymphocytopenia: A case report”. J Postgrad Med 2020;66:227 |
How to cite this URL:
Umamaheshwari S, Sumana M N, Shetty M S, Gopal S. Reply to Letter to Editor regarding the article, “Idiopathic CD4+ T lymphocytopenia: A case report”. J Postgrad Med [serial online] 2020 [cited 2023 Nov 28];66:227. Available from: https://www.jpgmonline.com/text.asp?2020/66/4/227/299293 |
We thank the authors for their comments on our recently published case report.[1]In this case study, the patient had no other complications apart from toxic megacolon condition, which was diagnosed as ulcerative colitis with pancolitis of grade IV activity. The details of investigations including blood and biochemical parameters have already been stated in the article.[1] The CD4 count of the patient was found to be less (296/mm3) than normal range and hence, the patient was assessed for other infections, primarily the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which is the main cause for the depletion of CD4 count. The patient did not had any HIV-associated risk factors including multiple sex partners, unprotected sex, intravenous drug abuse, or blood transfusion/transplant. Also, he had no history of surgery or hospitalization. However, to rule out the possibility of HIV, rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) were done at Integrated Counselling and Testing Center (ICTC). Later, the advanced fourth generation Abbott Architect HIV Ag/Ab Combo Assay (CLIA moderate) was employed to detect p24 antigen and antibodies to HIV-1 and HIV-2 at very early infection. Since, the CD4 count declined from 296/mm3 to 56/mm3 in a gap of 3 months, the HIV tests were repeatedly carried out. Notably, the HIV infection was found to be negative, prior and after the surgery. Moreover, to exclude the false negative results, and to confirm the HIV infection, RDT and CLIA were repeated. The well-established and widely accepted testing strategies and supplies used in the study are approved by National AIDS Control Organization (NACO)/FDA. The HIV tests were carried out in the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL, India) accredited laboratory, which maintains high standards of quality. Next, the results were analyzed and interpreted by well-trained microbiologists, who manage the laboratory conforming to all standards. Thus, user errors are almost nil. In the context of toxic megacolon, it is the most common complication of ulcerative colitis[2] and was confirmed by histopathological analysis of the resected colonic specimen. The patient was conservatively treated with immunosuppressant steroids (hydrocortisone; 100 mg) for a short course of three days, prior to surgery but the patient did not respond. In this case, the patient exhibited lymphopenic conditions for more than three months; therefore, the possibilities of transient lymphopenia conditions are unusual. Noteworthy, the viral infections and immune stimulations accompany lymphopenia, which are primarily involved in type 1 interferon-mediated lymphocyte activation.[3] However, interferon assay was not carried out in the present case.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
| :: References | |  |
| 1. | Umamaheshwari S, Sumana MN, Shetty MS, Gopal S. Idiopathic CD4+T lymphocytopenia: A case report. J Postgrad Med 2020;66:102-4.  [ PUBMED] [Full text] |
| 2. | Autenrieth DM, Baumgart DC. Toxic megacolon. Inflamm Bowel Dis 2012;18:584-91. |
| 3. | Harvey JW. Evaluation of leukocytic disorders. Veterinary Hematology: a Diagnostic Guide and Color Atlas; Elsevier Saunders, St. Louis Missouri, USA. 2012; p.122-76. |
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