Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) and Haematologic Parameters in HIV- Positive Patients on Protease Inhibitor-Based HAART Regimen: A Case-Control Study.

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is associated with an increased risk of hypercoagulability and treatment with antiretroviral agents especially protease inhibitors has also been reported to contribute to this risk. Altered fibrinolytic activity is reported as a mechanism of increased thrombotic risk in HIV patients on therapy. However, this has not been investigated in our environment. Objective: To evaluate and compare PAI-1 levels as a marker of thrombotic risk in HIV-infected persons on PI-based HAART regimen with those on non-PI-based therapy and to correlate PAI-1 with haematological parameters. Methods: This was a comparative cross-sectional study conducted at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), Calabar, Cross River State. A total of 125 subjects including 45 HIV-positive patients on PI-based HAART regimen, 42 HIV-positive patients on non-PI-based HAART regimen and 38 Controls. The controls include 18 HIV-positive therapy naïve patients and 20 HIV-negative controls. PAI 1 and blood counts were estimated using standard methods. Data were analyzed using the IBM version of the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 22. Statistical significance was set at 0.05. Result: The median PAI-1 level was significantly increased in patients on PI-based HAART regimen (p = 0.004). The blood counts did not differ significantly between patients on PI and non-PI-based HAART regimens (p > 0.05). There were no significant correlations between PAI-1 levels and blood counts (p > 0.05). Conclusion: PAI-1 level is elevated in HIV patients on PI-based HAART regimen. However, the association with thrombotic events could not be established in the study.

Demographic pattern of chronic lymphocytic leukemia in a tertiary hospital in Calabar, South-South Nigeria.

Background: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a heterogeneous group of monoclonal forms of lymphoproliferative disorder, which is usually common among older adults. There is an increasing trend in the number of patients presenting with the disease. Aim: This study aims to determine the epidemiology pattern of CLL in Cross River state. Methodology: A retrospective study with 10-years data (2010-2019) obtained from the register of the Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar. The data collected include the date of presentation, the age, gender, location of residence, and occupations of the patients. Results: A total of 47 cases were seen during the 10-year period, with a male: female ratio of 1:1. The mean age at presentation was 59 years. The majority of the patients were in their fifth and sixth decades of life. Most patients (44.68%) practice farming as their profession. Conclusion: The study has reawaken our consciousness on the increasing trend on the epidemiological burden of CLL in our environment and will help to enhance further investigation into the relationship between the rising trend and available possible risk factors in our environment.

RésuméContexte: La leucémie lymphoÏde chronique (LLC) est un groupe hétérogène de formes monoclonales de trouble lymphoprolifératif, qui est généralement fréquent chez les personnes âgées. Il y a une tendance croissante dans le nombre de patients présentant la maladie. Objectif: cette etude vise à déterminer le schéma épidémiologique de la LLC dans l'État de Cross River. Méthodologie: une étude rétrospective avec des données sur 10 ans (2010-2019) obtenu auprès du registre du Département d'hématologie et de transfusion sanguine, Hôpital universitaire de Calabar, Calabar. Le les données recueillies comprennent la date de présentation, l'âge, le sexe, le lieu de résidence et les occupations des patients. Résultats: Un total de 47 cas ont été observés au cours de la période de 10 ans, avec un rapport hommes: femmes de 1: 1. L'âge moyen à la présentation était de 59 ans. La majorité des les patients étaient dans leurs cinquième et sixième décennies de vie. La plupart des patients (44, 68%) pratiquent l'agriculture comme leur profession. Conclusion: l'étude a réveillé notre conscience de la tendance croissante à la charge épidémiologique de la LLC dans notre environnement et contribuera à une enquête plus approfondie sur la relation entre la tendance à la hausse et les facteurs de risque possibles disponibles dans notre environnement.