ABSTRACT
(baseline) demographic andclinical information, with initial full blood count results were retrieved from the medical records of the participants. Post HAART administration blood sample (5mLs) was taken from each participant into an EDTA vacutainer tube andcomplete blood count (CBC) performed usingURIT 5250 haematology analyser.Participants transfused with blood overthe last 4 months were excluded from the study.Results: The study recorded significant decreases in WBCand Neutrophil (%)post HAART administration. Lymphocyte (%),Haemoglobin, Haematocrit, MCV, MCHC, RDW-SD were all significantly higher post HAART administration. Total Platelets count, MPV, PDW-SD, PCT and P-LCR were significantly lower post-HAART administration.A comparison of the effects of EFV and NVP administered with AZT/3TC backbone yielded the following results. The NVP group recorded a significantly higher HCT compared with the EFV group (p-0.0073). A significantly higher mean PCT, MPV, P-LCR,PLCC, PDW-SD were recorded in the EFV group comparedto the NVP group respectively.Conclusion: The administration of HAART is associated with significant improvements in erythroid and lymphoid lineages, reduce anaemia, improves immunity and general patient well-being. NVP improve erythroid cell indices while EFV ameliorate platelet indices. HAART regimen should be chosen based on the pre-HAART laboratory tests conducted on the individual normal ranges. Decreased levels (mmol/L) of serum Cl-(3.90±0.54) and Na (31.70±0.10) were observed. Between the male and female patients, K+level (mmo/L) (3.70±0.54 and 4.0±0.54 respectively) was observed to be within the normal value of 3.5 –5.0mmo/L. Na+concentration (mmol/L) was observed to be decreased in both male and females with the values of 130.80 ±6.40 and 131.4±6.50 respectively. The Cl-concentration (mmol/L) was observed to be increased in females (98.40±7.60) and decreased in males (97.20±8.90) when compared with the normal range (98.00-105.00mmol/L). The male patients showed an observed significant increase in the concentration (mmol/L) of their HCO3-(38.20±15.70) than the females (25.10±2.60) when compared with the normal value of 24.00-30.00mmol/L. The concentration (mmol/L) of Na+of all the ages (10-59years) was observed to be decreased when compared with the normal range (135.00-150.00mmol/L) while K+for all the ages was observed to fall within the normal range. Only the age range of 30 -39years had an increased level of Cl-(145.90±48.10) while the other age ranges were decreased. The concentration (mmol/L) of HCO3-of all the age ranges were observed to be within the normal range except for the age range of 20-29years which was observed to show a decreased concentration (mmol/L) of 22.30±4.00 when compared with the normal range of 24.00-30.00mmol/L. Findings from this study has led to the recommendation that strict monitoring of the serum electrolytes in HIV/AIDS patients on HAART is important as early detection and treatment of these abnormalities will enhance the quality of life of patients.