Effect of lamivudine [epivir], nevirapine [vivumine] and stavudine [stavir] on CD[4][+] count of HIV patients attending university of Benin Teaching Hospital [UBTH], Benin city, Edo State, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

Anti-retroviral drugs are broadly used to alleviate the sufferings of HIV patients in Sub-Saharan countries. Few studies have been carried out to assess the effects of these drugs on the immunological parameters of patients in the above-mentioned region. To assess the effect of the Lamivudine, Nevirapine and Stavudine combination on the CD4+ count of HIV patients attending the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria. An assessment of CD4+ counts of 37 HIV patients from different socio-economic groups on tritherapy, notably Lamivudine-Nevirapine-Stavudine combinations, attending the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, was carried out before therapy, three months and six months after administration of the drugs using Dynabeads[R] T4 -T8 Quantification Protocol [DYNAL BIOTECH ASA NORWAY]. Out of the 37 studied subjects, 32 [86.48%] patients showed a marked increase in their CD4+ counts at three and six months, four [12.5%] subjects showed a continuous decrease in CD4+ level up to six months after therapy, while one [3.12%] patient had a decrease in CD4+ after three months and a sudden rise at six months. The mean CD4+ cell count increased from 255 at base line to 284 at week 12, and to 346 at week 24. Traders were the most affected by HIV virus followed by people in the group referred to as 'others', civil servants, and students with prevalence rates of 43.24%, 24.32%, 18.91%, 13.51% respectively. Statistically, there was a significant difference between HIV-1, HIV-2 and HIV-1 and 2 which had a prevalence rate of 89.19%, 8.10% and 2.70% respectively [p<0.05]. The importance of early diagnosis, continuous evaluation and sound clinical management of HIV is strongly emphasized