Taiwanese Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Volume 45, Issue 1 , Pages 42-47, March 2006

Impact of the Menstrual Cycle on Immunologic Markers in HIV-Infected Taiwanese Women

  • Kuang-Han Chao

      Affiliations

    • Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Ming-Yih Wu

      Affiliations

    • Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Mei-Jou Chen

      Affiliations

    • Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Chien-Ching Hung

      Affiliations

    • Department of Internal Medicine, Medical College and Hospital, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Hong-Nerng Ho

      Affiliations

    • Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taipei, Taiwan
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorrespondence to: Dr. Hong-Nerng Ho, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Taiwan University Hospital, 7 Chung Shan South Road, Taipei 10063, Taiwan

Received 16 August 2005; received in revised form 29 August 2005; accepted 30 August 2005.

Article Outline

Summary 

Objective

This study tested the relationship between cellular immunity and the menstrual cycle in Taiwanese HIV-infected and normal women.

Methods

From October 1997 to October 2001, 21 HIV-seropositive women and 30 controls were enrolled in this study. Blood was sampled for hormone profile (estradiol and progesterone) and immunophenotyping with flow cytometry during the follicular and luteal phases. Immunophenotyping included total blood cell count, lymphocyte count, CD4+ cells, CD8+ cells, and their activation markers, including CD25, CD69, HLA-DR, and CD38.

Results

The proportion of CD8+ T cells increased during the follicular phase and activating antigens (HLADR and CD38) were elevated on CD8+ T cells of HIV-seropositive women. All these alterations seemed unrelated to the menstrual cycle.

Conclusions

The CD8+ T cells were increased and activated in women with HIV infection but these alterations were not affected by the menstrual cycle. Therefore, sex hormones seem not to affect the course of HIV infection.

Key Words:  HIV-1 , immunologic markers , menstrual cycle

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PII: S1028-4559(09)60189-3

doi:10.1016/S1028-4559(09)60189-3

Taiwanese Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Volume 45, Issue 1 , Pages 42-47, March 2006

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