Proteinuria in HIV positive patients; Determine the frequency at a tertiary care hospital in Karachi

ABSTRACT

To determine the frequency of proteinuria in HIV positive patients at a tertiary care hospital in Karachi. Cross-sectional. This study was carried out in lnfectious diseases wards and all medical wards of Civil Hospital Karachi, from Jan 201 1 to the Dec 2011. A total of 170 patients from infection diseases wards and all medical wards of Civil Hospital Karachi. Age more >12 years of either sex who were newly diagnosed cases of HIV based on positive HIV serology by ELlSA and Western blot in infection diseases ward were included. Patients having known kidney disease. urinary tract infection, serum creatinine more than 1.5 mg/dI, diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure and old diagnosed cases of HIV who have already taken or who are taking HIV infection treatment were excluded from this study. Spot urinary sample was taken to measure the proteinuria by urine dipstick. To minimize bias all specimen sent to same laboratory of the hospital. 170 newly diagnosed cases of HIV were included in this study. Gender distribution showed male preponderance [Male Female = 6.41]. Majority of cases 120 [70.6%] had age between 26 - 50 years. Mean age of women was 30.3 +/- 7.4 years [min - max = 18 - 45 years] and for males was 34.3 +/- 9.6 years [min - max = 15 - 56 years]. Out of 170 HIV positive cases frequency of > 1+ protein in urine on urine dipstick analysis was found in 27 [15.9%] cases. Out 27 cases, 16 [59.3%] cases had age between 26-50 years [mean +/- SD =32 +/- 10.1 years, min - max = 18 - 55 years]. Proteinuria was high in increasing age groups. Proportion of proteinuria was high in married and depressed patients, out of 27 cases, 18 [66.7%] were married and 9 [33.3%] unmarried, Frequency of proteinurta was high in labor class, 11 of 27 [40.7%] were labors followed by house wife 6[22.3%], while 5 [18.5%] were private job holder. ln this study I found a high prevalence of proteinuria in HIV positive patients. Such subjects show male preponderance disiribution. We conclude that HIV positive patients should be screened for proteinuria and if they found to have proteinuria, they should be subjected to appropriate treatment to retard the progression of nephropathy and associated complications.