About 34 million people globally are estimated to be currently diagnosed with HIV/AIDS and approximately 2.7 million new infections that progress to AIDS happens each year. Currently there is a reduction of 25 percent of HIV infected cases in Nigeria over the recent decades though the disease remains an alarming situation since over 3 million Nigerians live with it and the number is rising. This study was carried out to determine the profile of progression and regression of CD4 count status of identified HIV/AIDS patients who are under ART when they come for a repeat or follow up at the General Hospital Alkaleri Bauchi State Nigeria.

The study targeted 80 patients 12 males and 68 females. HIV serologic testing was done using parallel testing with Determine HIV 1/2 and UniGold HIV 1/2 rapid tests. The confirmed HIV positive patients were taken to the Centre for Comprehensive Care, Alkaleri where CD4 counts were assessed using BD FACS count system before starting ART. Immunologic responses were assessed by CD4 counts every two weeks after the commencement of ART and on a monthly basis for successive three months. CD4 counts at the beginning of the study were as low as 8 cells/mm³ and as high as 220 cells/mm³. 

Patients were categorized into three groups based on their CD4 counts: Low is defined as containing less than 100 cells/mm³, intermediate is anything between 100 and 200 cells/ mm³ while high is anything greater than 200 cells/mm³. Values were obtained from 429 participants; they had a mean baseline CD4 count of 126 cells/mm³ and after receiving treatments for 14 weeks had a mean CD4 count of 278 cells/mm³. Specific immunologic responses whereby gains in CD4 count were noted at 2 weeks post ART commencement were also noted across the study sites. Our regression analysis also showed that the baseline of CD4 counts between 100-200 cells/mm³ registered statistically significant higher response to therapy mea- sure (P < 0.01; t = 19.7332) compared with the patients with CD4 count < 100 cells.mm³ or > 200 cells.mm³. 

The study supported that confirmation of the effectiveness of the ART as a method of raising the CD4 levels, and therefore a confirmation of CD4 counts as a positive outcome indicator for the ART. Consequently, these findings were of potential significance for enhancing strategies regarding the management of HIV.