Abstract
The purpose of this research was to determine the baseline absolute counts of CD4 and CD8 in healthy
pregnant women in Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria. Thirty (30) non-pregnant women (control) and ninety (90)
seemingly healthy pregnant women between the ages of 18 and 39 served as research participants. Depending
on the trimester of pregnancy, the pregnant participants were split into three groups. Flow cytometry was used
to assess the absolute numbers of CD4 and CD8. The leucocyte counts were calculated using an automated
blood analyzer. The pregnant women's mean WBC (total) count (x103/μl) was 7.71±1.76 compared to the
control individuals' 4.97±0.82. The test and control groups' mean CD4 counts differed statistically significantly,
although there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups' total WBC and absolute CD8
levels (P>0.05). Comparing the CD4 absolute count to the control participants' mean levels, however, revealed
a statistically significant difference. In conclusion, compared to non-pregnant controls, pregnancy considerably
raised the mean WBC count but dramatically lowered the mean CD4+ cell count; however, there was no
change in the mean CD8+ cell count among the participants examined.