BIOCHEMICAL, HEMATOLOGICAL AND GROWTH INDICES OF HIV – POSITIVE PATIENTS ON HAART AT THE FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTRE (FMC), OWO, NIGERIA.

Abstract

Selected biochemical and haematological indices were determined in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) – infected patients that were on HAART at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owo, Nigeria. A total of one hundred and forty (140) individuals comprising seventy (70) clinically–diagnosed and laboratory–confirmed HIV – positive patients and seventy (70) apparently healthy age–matched individuals (controls) participated in the study. The ages of the individuals were between 16 and 65 years including both males and females. The age was ranged in five sub groups; 16 – 25, 26 – 35, 36 – 45, 46 – 55 and 56 – 65. Group 1 comprised HIV – positive patients who were not on treatment and the same set of HIV – positive patients after one (01) year of treatment with HAART while group 2 consist of HIV – negative individuals who also participated as controls. The weight, height, and body mass index (BMI) were also used to monitor the changes in immune response of both HIV positive patients that were not on drugs and those on treatment. It was observed that there is a significant association between HAART and HIV, with those HIV positive patients who are not on these HAART being more at risk. The HAART caused significant positive changes in patients receiving treatment compared to those that were not on drugs who were at great risk of death due to opportunistic infections coupled with wasting syndrome that resulted from suppression of the immune system. The results showed that the Highly Active Anti Retroviral Therapy (HAART) is helpful and effective in preventing the development of full – blown AIDS in HIV positive patients hence leading to a significant reduction in mortality and morbidity rates in general. It is indicated that HIV positive patients who are on HAART can still leave normal and healthy lives.