Immunological Evaluation of Human Immunedeficiency Virus Infected Individuals by Flow Cytometry

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection heavily compromises the immune system. The decrease of the T cell CD4+ subset along the evolution to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome has been considered as a hallmark of HIV infection. In this paper we review some aspects of the immunopathology of HIV infection and discuss the importance of the flow cytometry for the evaluation of the T lymphocyte subsets in the follow-up of HIV infected children and adults, and for the monitoring of the immune reconstitution upon antiretroviral therapy.

Keywords
human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/Aids), T lymphocyte subsets, flow cytometry