Risks of cardio-vascular diseases among highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) treated HIV seropositive volunteers at a treatment centre in Lagos, Nigeria.

INTRODUCTION: highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has led to a decline in HIV-induced morbidity and mortality in recent years. However, it has been opined that this has led to elevated risks of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). This study assessed the risks of CVDs among HAART experienced individuals living with HIV. METHODS: a cross sectional study involving 196 adults consisting of 118 HAART experienced and 78 HAART naïve was conducted. Anthropometric and blood pressure measurements were recorded for all participants. Blood samples obtained from the volunteers were used to determine glucose, creatinine, HIV viral load, CD4 count and lipid profile using standard methods. Lipid ratios, atherogenic indices and QRISK3 risk score were calculated. RESULTS: the median CD4 lymphocyte, mean body mass index (BMI) and HDL-c in HAART experienced participants were higher (P<0.05) than HAART naive individuals. The QRISK3 risk score and creatinine were higher (p<0.05) among HAART experienced group. In HAART experienced group, the risk of hypertension, increased low-density lipoprotein (LDL-c), atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) and QRISK3 were 3.7, 2.0, 2.38 and 3.85 times (p<0.05) higher respectively than in HAART naive. Atherogenic coefficient (AC) increase was more prevalent among male (p<0.05) participants. Risk of chronic renal disease (eGFR), hypertension and CVD (as measured by QRISK3) was higher (p<0.05) among the female and older participants respectively. CONCLUSION: the risk of CVDs and renal disease appeared to be higher among HAART experienced volunteers and older (>45 years) volunteers. The risk of renal disease appeared higher in females.

Biochemical Assessment of Renal and Liver Function among Preeclamptics in Lagos Metropolis.

OBJECTIVES: Preeclampsia is a pregnancy specific syndrome. Studies have shown that preeclampsia has multiorgan dysfunction effects. This study evaluated biomarkers of renal and liver function among preeclamptic Nigerian women. STUDY DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among 49 preeclamptic women and 50 normotensive healthy pregnant women. METHOD: The baseline data comprising age, gestational age, and blood pressure were obtained. Venous blood and spot urine samples were collected from each participant. Plasma obtained from blood samples taken into lithium heparinized vacutainer bottles was assayed for electrolytes, urea, creatinine, total protein, albumin, and uric acid, while sera samples from blood samples taken into serum separation tube- (SST-) gel vacutainer were assayed for aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase using ion selective electrode technique and Cobas autoanalyzer. Spot urine samples were assayed for protein and creatinine using Pyrogallol's reagent and Jaffe's methods, respectively. Microalbuminuria (protein/creatinine ratio) was generated from spot urine protein and creatinine data. RESULT: The plasma sodium, total protein, and albumin in preeclamptic group were significantly decreased (p<0.05) when compared with control. There was statistically significant increase (p<0.05) in microalbuminuria, plasma potassium, urea, creatinine, uric acid levels, serum AST, and ALT activities in preeclamptic group. A positive association (p<0.05) between alanine aminotransferase and biomarkers of renal function was observed. CONCLUSION: Preeclampsia has deleterious effects on renal and liver function as shown by alteration of these parameters.

Interrelationship Between Markers of Oxidative Stress, Inflammation and Hematological Parameters Among Preeclamptic Nigerian Women.

BACKGROUND Preeclampsia is a multifaceted pregnancy-related disorder affecting women and fetuses. A link between preeclampsia, oxidative stress, and inflammation has been suggested. This study evaluated the interrelationship between biomarkers of oxidative stress, inflammation, and hematological parameters among preeclamptic Nigerian women. MATERIAL AND METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted among 49 preeclamptic and 50 normotensive healthy pregnant women. Blood samples were obtained after 20-week gestation in all participants. Levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione (GSH), malonaldehyde (MDA), total protein, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and cardiac-specific troponin I (cTnI) were determined by spectrophotometric and ELISA techniques. FBC, prothrombin time, and activated partial thromboplastin time were determined using an auto-analyzer, Quick's one-stage, and Proctor's and Rappaport's modification methods, respectively. RESULTS The mean SOD (0.051±0.050 vs. 0.073±0.047, p 0.029), catalase (2.62±1.93 vs. 8.48±4.40, p<0.001), GSH (49.05±17.57 vs. 187.10±56.07 p<0.001), platelet (127.63±89.75 vs. 267.16±212.82, p<0.001 were lower in preeclampsia. MDA (7.16±5.00 vs. 2.91±2.66, p<0.001), cTnI (0.46±0.31 vs. 0.13±0.14 p<0.001), PT (19.36±4.06 vs. 13.45±1.97 p<0.001), APTT (45.53±2.92 vs. 37.49±4.99; p<0.001) were higher in preeclampsia. Negative associations between SOD and MDA (r -0.527 p<0.001), CAT and MDA (r -0.469, p 0.001) and positive associations between catalase and hs-CRP (r 0.844, p 0.029), RBC and HB (r 0.442, p 0.001), platelet, and SOD (r 0.353, p 0.013) were observed among preeclamptic volunteers. CONCLUSIONS Preeclampsia is associated with oxidative stress, derangement of hematological and coagulation homeostasis, as well as deleterious effects on the cardiovascular system.

Effects of football sporting activity on renal and liver functions among young undergraduate students of a Nigerian tertiary institution.

BACKGROUND: Football sporting exercise is one of the most popular events in the world. While there are well-documented reports on the effects of different athletic sporting activities on the biochemical markers of renal and liver functions, there are paucity of well-documented reports on the effects of football activity on Nigerian sportsmen, hence the need for this study. METHOD: Biochemical markers of renal and liver functions (urea, creatinine, aspartate aminotransaminase (AST), alanine aminotransaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP)) were determined using Cobas c 111 auto-analyser by Roche. RESULTS: The mean urea (mmol/L)±SEM, creatinine (µmol/L)±SEM, AST (U/L)±SEM, ALT (U/L)±SEM and ALP (U/L)±SEM values before and after soccer exercise were 3.56±0.12, 3.76±0.13, p=0.000; 79.36±1.53, 95.90±2.03, p=0.000; 32.54±1.15, 35.81±1.32, p=0.000; 15.68±1.02, 13.97±0.81, p=0.000; and 82.21±3.67, 86.08±3.86, p=0.046, respectively. Pearson's degree of association for AST and ALT before and after exercise were r=0.678, p=0.000 and r=0.770, p=0.000, respectively; ALT and ALP before exercise showed a positive and significant association (r=0.317, p=0.028). On the other hand, there was a negative but insignificant correlation between urea before exercise and ALP after exercise (r=-0.003, p=0.982) and urea before exercise versus AST after exercise (r=-0.120, p=0.418). A positive but insignificant association was observed between urea and creatinine before exercise (r=0.093, p=0.530). CONCLUSION: Football sporting event is associated with an increase in urea, creatinine, AST and ALP plasma values, and such interpretation of these parameters among sportsmen should be done with caution.