Association between serum amylase levels and CD4 cell counts in newly diagnosed people living with HIV: A case-control study

Serum amylase is a direct reflection of pancreatic injury. Several clinical studies have indicated that antiretroviral therapy may be the main cause of increased serum amylase in people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLWH). However, other probable causes including direct human immunodeficiency virus infection, opportunistic infections and neoplasms, alcohol abuse, and use of illicit drugs, which can also affect pancreatic amylase levels were not considered in these studies. In our study, we collected clinical data from newly diagnosed PLWH who had not received antiretroviral therapy, and examined the association between serum amylase levels and CD4 cell counts. Between November 2018 and September 2021, a total of 344 newly diagnosed PLWH and 344 healthy controls were recruited at Ningbo Yinzhou No 2 Hospital. Serum amylase levels, CD4 cell counts and other clinical features were measured. Relationships between serum amylase levels and clinical parameters were evaluated using correlation analysis. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to identify the independent risk factors. Newly diagnosed PLWH had lower CD4 cell counts and higher serum amylase levels than healthy controls (P < .05). Serum amylase levels were negatively correlated with CD4 cell counts (r = -0.506, P < .001). In multiple linear regression analyses, CD4 cell counts (beta = -0.327, 95% confidence interval = -0.051--0.022, P < .001) were independently associated with serum amylase levels. CD4 cell counts were independently associated with serum amylase levels in newly diagnosed PLWH. Thus, close monitoring of serum amylase may be significant in preventing opportunistic infections of PLWH, since low CD4 cell counts are associated with an increased risk of opportunistic infections.