ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To determine the response on treatment-naïve HIV/AIDS patients to the Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) in terms of CD4 Count and Weight gain over a period of 2 1/2 years. METHODS: Patients with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) were recruited under the Federal Government Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) programme at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital. The treatment regimen included Lamivudine, Starvudine and Nevirapine. The patients' responses were evaluated with respect to CD4 count and weight over the period of treatment. The diagnosis of HIV/AIDS was made on the basis of reactivity with two different ELISA reagents, and CD4 count was done with Dynal T4 Quant method. The weights (kg.) of the patients were taken at monthly visit. RESULTS: The duration of treatment for the patients analysed ranged from 1 month to 14 months. Analysis of CD4 count was possible in 105 patients. The mean post treatment CD4 count and weight were significantly higher than the pre-treatment values (p < 0.001 and p < 1.01) respectively. There were significant positive correlations (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001) between increases in CD4 count and weight respectively, and duration of treatment. In eight (8) patients, CD4 Count reduced or remained the same in spite of treatment. CONCLUSION: The HAART regime is associated with increase in CD4 Count and weight gain. While increases in CD4 Count and weight correlated with duration of therapy, there was no correlation between CD4 Count increase and weight gain.
Subject(s)
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/drug therapy , Anti-HIV Agents/therapeutic use , Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active , Body Weight/drug effects , CD4 Lymphocyte Count , Lamivudine/therapeutic use , Nevirapine/therapeutic use , Stavudine/therapeutic use , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Anti-HIV Agents/adverse effects , Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active/adverse effects , Female , Hospitals, Teaching , Hospitals, University , Humans , Lamivudine/adverse effects , Male , Middle Aged , Nevirapine/adverse effects , Nigeria , Stavudine/adverse effects , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of HBsAg among blood donors in Ilorin, in the middle belt area of Nigeria. DESIGN: Cross sectional. SETTING: University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital. SUBJECTS: 100 patients from antenatal clinic, 100 patients from STD clinic and 295 healthy blood donors from UITH. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalence of HBsAg. RESULTS: One hundred and sixteen (23.4pc) of the subjects were positive for HBsAg. These included 16pc of ANC patients, 36pc of STD patients and 21.7pc of blood donors. The positivity rate among STD patients was significantly higher than among ANC patients (p < 0.01) and blood donors (p < 0.01). The positivity rate among patients above 34 years of age was higher than in those of 15 to 34 years. CONCLUSION: The above positivity rates are higher than those previously reported in Nigeria and may indicate increasing prevalence. The highest rate found among STD clinic patients may have identified them as a reservoir group to which control programmes need to be targeted.
