Prevalence of parasitemia and associated immunodeficiency among HIV-malaria co-infected adult patients with highly active antiretroviral therapy

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the malaria parasitemia, CD4(+) cell counts and some haematological indices among HIV-malaria co-infected adult patients with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).@*METHODS@#A total of 342 adult HIV positive subjects were recruited at the consultant outpatient HIV/AIDS clinic, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria between June 2011 to November 2011. Blood samples were taken for malaria parasite count, CD4(+) cell count and other haematological counts.@*RESULTS@#Out of the 342 adult HIV positive subjects a total of 254 patients (74.3%) were found to have malaria parasitemia. The incidence of malaria parasitemia increased with advancing clinical stage of HIV infection and this was statistically significant (P=0.002). There was no statistical significance when gender was compared with the HIV-malaria status (P >0.05). Of the 254 co-infected patients, 134 (52.8%) had high parasitemia (>1.25 × 10(9)/L). Sixty patients were found to be hyperparasitemic (>2.5 parasites/L). There was a significant association between CD4(+) cell count and having significant parasitemia (P 0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#The prevalence of parasitemia is high among the HIV/AIDS infected patients.

Ocular disorders in adult leukemia patients in Nigeria

Leukemias may present with, or be associated with ocular disorders. To determine the rates of ophthalmic disorders in adult patients with leukemia. A prospective study of ocular disorders in adult patients with leukemia at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria, between July 2004 and June 2008 was conducted. The patients were interviewed and examined by the authors and the ocular findings were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed using Instat GraphPad [TM] v2.05a statistical package software. The means, standard deviation, and the Kruskal-Wallis non parametric test were performed. Forty-seven patients with leukemias were seen. Nineteen patients [40.4%] had CLL, 14[29.8%] had CML, 9[19.1%] had AML and 5 [10.6%] had ALL. Seven patients [14.9%] had ocular disorders due to leukemia. The ocular disorders due to the leukemia were proptosis in two patients [4.3%], retinopathy in one patient [2.1%], conjunctival infiltration in one patient [2.1%], periorbital edema in one patient [2.1%], retinal detachment in one patient [2.1%], and subconjunctival hemorrhage in one patient [2.1%]. There was no significant difference in rate of the ocular disorders in the various types of leukemia [Kruskal-Wallis KW= 4.019; corrected for ties. P=0.2595]. One patient [2.1%] was blind from bilateral exudative retinal detachment while 1 patient [2.1%] had monocular blindness from mature cataract. Ophthalmic disorders that are potentially blinding occur in leukemias. Ophthalmic evaluation is needed in these patients for early identification and treatment of blinding conditions

Ophthalmic disorders in adult lymphoma patients in Africa

Ocular manifestations of lymphoma are rare events. Most reports of ocular involvement in lymphoma are case reports or reports of a few patients. To determine the ophthalmic disorders in adult, African, lymphoma patients. A prospective study of ocular disorders in adult patients with lymphoma was conducted at the university of Benin Teahing Hosptial, Benin city, Nigeria, between July 2004 and June 2007. The patients were interviewed and examined by the authors and the ocular findings recorded. Data was analyzed on computer with the aid of the Instat GraphPad[TM] v2.05a statistical package software. The mean, standard deviation, Mann-Whitney U-statistic and P value were calculated. A total of 111 patients, with hematological malignancies were seen over a period of three years of which 62 [55.85%] had lymphomas. Of these, 51 [82.3%] were non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and 11 [17.7%] were Hodgkin's lymphoma. Ocular disorders occurred in 16 patients [31.4%] with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and none of the patients with Hodgkin's' lymphoma [Mann-Whitney U-statistic is equal to 7.500, U'is equal to 161.50, P<0.0001]. The ocular disorders due to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were seen as - proptosis in six patients [11.8%], retinopathies in three [5.9%], conjuctival infiltration in three [5.9%], optic atrophy in two [3.9%], keratoconjunctivitis in one [two per cent], desquamating nodular lid lesions in one [two per cent], papilloedema in one [two per cent], and upper lid mass in one [two per cent], desquamating nodular lid lesions in one [two per cent], papilloedema in one [two per cent], and upper lid mass in one [two per cent]. Four patients [6.5%] had monocular blindness. Ophthalmic disorders are relatively common in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Opthalmic evaluation is needed in these patients for early identification and treatment of potentially blinding conditions

Sudden onset of herpes zoster following chemotherapy for orbital lymphoma in a HIV positive patient

We report a 38-year-old HIV positive female, who developed an acute attack of herpes zoster HZ involving the mandibular, C2, C3, C4, T1, and T2 dermatomes, 9 days after the commencement of the first cycle of chemotherapy regimen for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma NHL. She had developed NHL of the ovary approximately 6 months earlier, followed by metastasis to the left orbit resulting in proptosis of the left eye. A combination of a positive HIV status, lymphoma, and chemotherapy can predispose a patient to an attack of HZ involving many dermatomes

pattern of fetal hemoglobin changes in patients with malignancy on chemotherapy

Production of fetal proteins by malignant tissue is a recognized phenomenon seen in many neoplastic disorders. Hence, the aim was to determine if there is a positive correlation between administration of chemotherapy and reduction in fetal hemoglobin [HbF] levels. In a prospective study at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Nigeria, 50 cancer patients at various stages of the disease and 50 controls for 10 months period [March to December, 2005], HbF was determined in pre- chemotherapy [n=23] and post-chemotherapy [n=27] cancer patients. Fetal hemoglobin was estimated by the modified Betke's method. A total of 20 patients [40%] comprising 10 pre-chemotherapy and 10 post-chemotherapy patients presented with increased HbF which was statistically significant [p<0.0001]. There was also a significant decrease in post- chemotherapy result when both pre and post-chemotherapy values were compared [p=0.0073]. The results presented indicate that during recovery of erythropoiesis some erythroblasts synthesized HbF and there was a reduction following administration of chemotherapy