Acidosis in HIV patients on antiretroviral drugs.

ABSTRACT

A survey of one hundred and twenty HIV patients was carried out to evaluate a possible cause of acidosis in HIV patients using biochemical parameters such as Uric acid, Lactate dehydrogenase, Phosphate and Bicarbonate .The patients were drawn from Aba in Abia State. Fifty HIV positive and fifty HIV patients on antiretroviral drugs were tested respectively comprising of 30 females and 20 males. Twenty HIV negative subjects made of 10 females and 10 males served as control. Subjects were of age 20 -35 yrs, HIV patients were on antiretroviral drugs (triviro-LNS-Lamivudine, Nevirapine and Starvudine) 1-2 pills daily depending on the CD4 count. Moreso, have been on the drug for the duration of 2- 3 years. All the investigations were done with serum. The phosphate and uric acid was assayed using fortress diagnostic kit based on calorimetric assay, so also Lactate dehydrogenase. Bicarbonate was determined based on titrimetric method. The results of the study revealed that there was a significant increase in the serum levels of Phosphate and Uric Acid in HIV positive subjects not on drugs (phosphate level Control (mg/dL). 3.70 ± 1.54 vs 10.00 ± 4.00, uric acid level control (mg/dL) 4.61± 2.36 vs 7.60 ± 3.60 compared to HIV negative subjects and HIV infected subjects on Antiretroviral drugs. Inaddition the Bicarbonate level was significantly reduced in HIV positive subjects compared to the other two groups as well (control (mmol/L) 23.00 ± 6.19 vs 7.16 ± 3.50 ( P<0.05) .The activity of lactate dehydrogenase was very pronounced in HIV positive patients on antiretroviral drug compared to the other groups( P<0.05). Similarly, a significant increase in the serum level of Phosphate was obtained for HIV positive subjects on drugs compared to HIV negative subjects (control (mg/dL). 3.70 ± 1.54 vs 4.78 ± 1.80 P<0.05).The result indicated equally that HIV positive subjects on drugs exhibited slight decrease in the levels of Uric Acid and Bicarbonate compared to HIV negative subjects (P<0.05). This study is therefore supporting and encouraging HIV infected patients to take antiretroviral drugs to reduce the associated metabolic abnormalities.