Correlation of CD4 count with platelet count, Prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time among HIV patients in Benin City, Nigeria / Correlación entre el conteo de CD4 y el conteo de plaquetas, el tiempo de Protrombina y el tiempo de tromboplastina parcial activada entre pacientes de VIH en la Ciudad de Benin, Nigeria

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of CD4 count on platelet count, prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) among HIV patients. METHOD: Blood samples were collected from 100 subjects consisting of 70 HIV treatment naive patients and 30 HIV seronegative individuals. Platelet count, CD4 count, PT and APTT were performed on the blood samples using standard techniques. RESULT: HIV-positive patients had significantly (p < 0.001) lower CD4 and platelet counts than HIV-negative subjects. Also, PT and APTT were significantly (p < 0.001) higher in HIV patients compared with their HIV negative counterparts. Among the HIV-infected patients, platelet count did not differ significantly (p > 0.05) between those with CD4 count < 200 cells/µL and those with CD4 count > 200 cells/ µL. However, PT and APTT were significantly (p < 0.005 and p < 0.001 respectively) higher in HIV patients with CD4 count < 200 cell/µL. Only PT significantly correlated with CD4 count (r = 0.5406, p < 0.001) and this correlation was observed only among HIV patients with CD4 count < 200 cell/µL (r = 0.6227, p< 0.001). CONCLUSION: HIV patients with CD4 count < 200 cell/µL have higher PT and APTT values; PT only correlated with CD4 count and endothelial activation is suggested as the possible mechanism for the coagulation defect.

OBJETIVO: Determinar el efecto de conteo de CD4 sobre el conteo de plaquetas, el tiempo de protrombina (PT) y el tiempo de tromboplastina parcial activada (TTPA) entre pacientes de VIH. MÉTODO: Se recogieron muestras de sangre de 100 sujetos formados por 70 pacientes sin experiencia previa en el tratamiento contra el VIH y 30 individuos VIH seronegativos. Se realizaron conteos de plaquetas, conteos de CD4, PT y TTPA, en muestras de sangre usando técnicas estándares. RESULTADO: Los pacientes con VIH tuvieron conteos de plaquetas y de CD4 significativamente más bajos que los sujetos VIH negativos. Asimismo, tanto el PT como el TTPA fueron significativamente más altos (p < 0.001) en pacientes con VIH, en comparación con sus contrapartes VIH negativos. Entre los pacientes infectados por VIH, el conteo de plaquetas no presentó diferencias significativas (p > 0.05) entre aquellos con conteo CD4 < 200 células/µL y aquellos con conteo CD4 > 200 células/ µL. Sin embargo, el PT y el TTPA fueron significativamente más altos (p < 0.005 y p < 0.001 respectivamente) en pacientes con VIH con conteo CD4 < 200 células/µL. Solamente el PT estuvo significativamente correlacionado con el conteo CD4 (r = 0.5406, p < 0.001) y esta correlación fue observada sólo entre pacientes con VIH con conteo CD4 < 200 células/µL (r = 0.6227, p< 0.001). CONCLUSIÓN: Los pacientes de VIH con conteo CD4 < 200 células/µL, poseen valores de PT y TTPA más altos; el PT mantenía correlación solamente con el conteo de CD4, y se sugiere la activación endotelial como posible mecanismo para el defecto de coagulación.

Prevalence of Anaemia among HIV-Infected patients in Benin City; Nigeria

The aim of this study was to use the World Health Organization (WHO) definition of anaemia to determine prevalence of anaemia among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients on the highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and those that are HAART naive. Haemoglobin concentration was measured in 457 HIV patients consisting of 217 patients on HAART (86 males and 131 females) and 240 HAART naive patients (106 males and 134 females). According to WHO criteria; anaemia was defined as a haemoglobin concentration below 12g/dl in women and below 13g/dl in men. The anaemic HIV patients were further categorized according to WHO/ACTG anaemia toxicity grades. An overall anaemia prevalence of 60.61was observed. The prevalence of anaemia was significantly higher among HAART naive patients (69.17) than in HIV patients on HAART (51.15) (P 0.001). The prevalence of anaemia differ significantly (P 0.05) between males and females of HAART naive patients with males (76.42) having higher prevalence than females (63.43). The WHO/ACTG categorization showed the same pattern between HIV patients on HAART and those that were HAART naive. Conclusively; the overall prevalence of anaemia was 60.61among HIV patients. HAART naive patients have higher prevalence as well as males in this group. The WHO definition of anaemia is recommended as this will give the true prevalence of anaemia and allow for policy and interventions to address it