Microbial, biochemical and hematological indices of antiretroviral (ART) treatment naïve human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seropositive patients

Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate the efficacy of the use of microbial, biochemical, and hematological 
indices as diagnostic and prognostic parameters of antiretroviral therapy (ART) naïve human immunodeficiency 
virus (HIV) seropositive patients. The experimental design was a single factor completely randomized design 
(CRD). Twenty (n=20) healthy seronegative human subjects (control) and fifty (n=50) HIV seropositive patients 
were subjected to in vitro qualitative HIV-1/HIV-2 assay, HIV viral load (vl) test, CD4+ T lymphocyte cells count, 
serum albumin (A), serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), serum total bilirubin (Tb), serum total cholesterol 
(C), serum triglyceride (T), Hemoglobin (Hb) tests, and blood group and genotype tests (of the HIV seropositive 
patients) . Results on the HIV-1/HIV-2 assay: 35 (70%) HIV-2 seropositive patients, 3(6%) HIV-1/HIV-2 co-infection 
patients, 12(24%) HIV-1 seropositive patients. Results recorded of the control group  and HIV positive patients, 
expressed as mean ± standard error (S.E) (unit) were as follows : vl (0.0 ± 0) and (400 ±70) (copies/ml), CD4+ 
(1100 ± 100) and (350 ± 50) (/μL), A (4.45±0.1) and (2.81 ±0.05) (g/dl), AST (8.3±0.7) and (40.3±0.7) (U/l), Tb 
(0.62±0.2) and (2.10±0.3) (mg/dl), C (165 ± 3.4) and (100.8 ± 0.3) (mg/dl), T (125.8±4.7) and (150.8±1.7) (mg/dl), Hb 
(14.25  ±0.1) and (8.1 ± 0.3) (g/dl), respectively. Blood group and genotype test results (n=50): A=6(12%), B= 
5(10%), AB=4(8%), O=35(70%); AA=10(20%), AS=40(80%). The mean values of vl, AST, Tb and T were 
significantly higher (p<0.05), but those of CD4+, A, C and Hb  were significantly lower (p<0.05) in the HIV 
seropositive patients compared with the control. The statistical regression and correlation between HIV viral 
copies/ml and Hb (g/dl) of HIV seropositive patients were significant (p<0.05)(r = 0.985), regression equation: Ŷ 
(copies/ml) = 160000 – 19703.704xi (g/dl). Incidence of HIV infection correlated positively and significantly 
(p<0.05) with significant increase (p<0.05) in  vl, AST, Tb, T and significant decrease (p<0.05) in C, CD4+, A and 
Hb of the ART treatment naïve HIV seropositive patients. These significant differences/alterations could be used 
as effective criteria/yardstick for the diagnosis and prognosis of  HIV infection.