Spectrum of Reactive Morphological Alterations in Leucocytes in HIV Patients.

ABSTRACT

Background: The earliest hematological manifestation of HIV infection can occur at the time of primary infection. Several peripheral blood abnormalities are known in HIV. However, not many studies have reported morphological changes in white blood cells in antiviral naïve patients and even fewer have compared them with HIV seropositive patients. Material and methods: Peripheral blood smears from 100 patients were studied. 50 of them were newly diagnosed HIV seropositive cases and 50 were HIV seronegative. A peripheral blood smear was made to study morphology of various white blood cells A written informed consent was taken. Statistical analysis of the data obtained was done. Results: Morphological abnormalities in the lymphocytes had been the most significant finding, which included nuclear lobulation, nuclear convolution and plasmacytoid and monocytoid features. Neutrophils also showed various morphological abnormalities. Most common were hypogranulation, hypersegmented nuclei and cytoplasmic vacuolations in descending order of frequency. Monocytes also revealed few morphological abnormalities including nuclear irregularities and cytoplasmic vacuolations. Conclusion: The observations from this study will serve as a guide to clinicians as treatment of these patients should include supplements to monitor and improve these changes.