Effect Of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy On CD4 Count And Weight In AIDS Patients Seen At The UITH, Ilorin

Abstract

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 2½ years. Patients with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) were recruited under the Federal Government HighlyActiveAntiretroviral Therapy (HAART) programme at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital. The treatment regimen included Lamivudine, Starvudine and Nevirapine. The patients\' responses were evaluatedwith respect toCD4 count andweight over the period of treatment.The diagnosis ofHIV/AIDS wasmade on the basis of reactivitywith two different ELISAreagents, andCD4 countwas donewithDynalT4
Quantmethod. Theweights (kg.) of the patientswere taken atmonthly visit. 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,CD4Count reduced or remained the same in spite of treatment. TheHAARTregime is associatedwith increase inCD4Count andweight gain.While increases in CD4 Count and weight correlated with duration of therapy, there was no correlation between CD4 Count
increase andweight gain.

Keywords: HIV/AIDS Antiretroviral Therapy CD4 Weight.

Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice Vol. 11 (4) 2008: pp. 312-315