INCIDENCE OF ANAEMIA AMONG HIV-INFECTED PATIENTS TREATED WITH ZIDOVUDINE-CONTAINING ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY IN NORTHEASTERN NIGERIA.

BACKGROUND: Zidovudine (AZT) is a common component of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in resource-limited settings. However, AZT is associated with myelotoxity that often presents with anaemia. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of anaemia among patients initiated on AZT-containing and non-AZT containing ART regimens. METHODS: In this retrospective analysis, records from 800 ART-naïve HIV-infected patients were abstracted by simple random sampling from program databases. Rates of anaemia were compared between patients initiated on AZT- versus non- AZT-containing ART regimens. Patients were stratified according to absence (Group A) or presence (Group B) of baseline anaemia defined as haemoglobin < 10.5g/dl. Incidence was calculated as total cases of AZT-induced anaemia (group A) or worsening of anaemia (group B) during the study period divided by person-time at risk and adjusted per 100 person-years. Average time-to-event and survival curve were estimated using Kaplan Meier survival analysis. RESULTS: In group A (without baseline anaemia), the incidence of anaemia in the AZT-exposed versus non-exposed cohorts was 73.3 and 17.6 per 100 patient years at 6 months, and 60.5 and 8.5 per 100 patient years at 12 months, respectively. In group B, the incidence of worsening anaemia was 65.9 and 26.2 per 100 patient years at 6 months, and 57.5 and 17.9 per 100 patient years after 12 months in AZT-exposed and AZT-unexposed cohorts, respectively. The estimated time to event (developing anaemia) was 2.3 (1.5 - 3.4) months, while estimated to event (worseninig anaemia) was 2.0 (1.5 - 4.0). CONCLUSION: HIV-infected patients initiated on AZT-containing ART are 2.7 and 4.5 more likely to develop anaemia at 6 and 12 months, respectively, compared to those initiating a non-AZT containing regimen. When censored at 12 months the overall incidence of AZT-related anaemia was estimated at 22.3% (38.2 incidences per person years). Majority (75%) of the AZT-related anaemia occurred early with estimated time-to-event occurring within the first 3.8 months.

Body mass index changes during highly active antiretroviral therapy in Nigeria.

Wasting remains an important condition in HIV-infected patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). In this study, 120 patients with newly diagnosed HIV infection were prospectively evaluated to determine the effect of HAART on body mass index (BMI). Eighty-nine (83.1%) patients gained weight, 5 (4.7%) had no weight change, and 13 (12.2%) lost weight. There was a significant increase in overweight and obese patients. On multivariate analysis, time-updated CD4 count and higher baseline BMI were associated with a greater increase in BMI. Anaemia at diagnosis was associated with a significant increase in BMI. There were no significant effects of age, sex, disease severity, viral load or educational status on BMI changes. About 27% of the HIV patients presented with weight loss, which emphasizes that weight loss and wasting remain important AIDS-defining conditions, despite the advent of HAART. A linear association was observed between time-updated CD4 count and increase in BMI. The association between time-updated CD4 count and greater increase in BMI suggests that BMI could be a surrogate for CD4 count in monitoring treatment response in resource-limited settings.

Relation between some haematological abnormalities, degree of immunosuppression and viral load in treatment-naïve HIV-infected patients.

This cross-sectional study at a teaching hospital in north-eastern Nigeria estimated the prevalence of anaemia, leukopenia and thrombocytopenia in treatment-naïve HIV-infected patients (177 males and 316 females), and the associations with virological and immunological markers. The overall prevalences of anaemia, leukopenia and thrombocytopenia were 49.5%, 5.5% and 4.5% respectively. The prevalence of anaemia was significantly higher in males than females (61.6% versus 42.7%), while the rates of leukopenia (5.1% versus 5.7%) and thrombocytopenia (5.7% versus 3.8%) were similar. Almost two-thirds of the HIV treatment-naïve studied patients, 293/493 (59.4%), had cytopenia and would require antiretroviral drugs. AIDS was diagnosed by clinical or immunological criteria in 70% of patients. The degree of cytopenia was directly related to the degree of immunosuppression and clinical AIDS status. No relationship was observed between cytopenia and viral load.

Relation between some haematological abnormalities, degree of immunosuppression and viral load in treatment-na‹ve HIV-infected patients

This cross-sectional study at a teaching hospital in north-eastern Nigeria estimated the prevalence of anaemia, leukopenia and thrombocytopenia in treatment-naive HIV-infected patients [177 males and 316 females], and the associations with virological and immunological markers. The overall prevalences of anaemia, leukopenia and thrombocytopenia were 49.5%, 5.5% and 4.5% respectively. The prevalence of anaemia was significantly higher in males than females [61.6% versus 42.7%], while the rates of leukopenia [5.1% versus 5.7%] and thrombocytopenia [5.7% versus 3.8%] were similar. Almost two-thirds of the HIV treatment-naive studied patients, 293/493 [59.4%], had cytopenia and would require antiretroviral drugs. AIDS was diagnosed by clinical or immunological criteria in 70% of patients. The degree of cytopenia was directly related to the degree of immunosuppresslon and clinical AIDS status. No relationship was observed between cytopenia and viral load