HAEMORHEOLOGIC AND FIBRINOLYTIC ACTIVITY IN HIV SEROPOSITIVE SUBJECTS AT NNAMDI AZIKIWE UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL (NAUTH), NNEWI

Obioma Chinwe F.*, Jeremiah Z. A., Okamgba Okezie and Obeagu Emmanuel Ifeanyi

ABSTRACT

Cardiovascular disease has become a major health challenge among HIV patients especially those on antiretroviral therapy (ART). Haemorheology and fibrinolysis are well-defined cardiovascular risk factors. This study was carried out to provide information on the haemorhelogic and fibrinolytic activity in HIV Patients on ART and those not on ART. Blood sample was collected from 160 subjects, 55 HIV-infected patients on Antiretroviral therapy (ART), 55 HIV-infected patients not on ART and 50 apparently healthy HIV Sero-negative individuals as controls. Euglobulin Lysis Time (ELT), Plasma Viscosity (PV), Plasma Fibrinogen Concentration (PFC), CD4 Count, Haematocrit (HCT) and Retroviral screening (RVS) of the subjects were determined using standard methods after obtaining ethics approval and informed consent of the subjects.. ANOVA and t-test were used for statistical analysis. The results showed that ELT, PV, PFC and RDW were significantly higher in HIV infected patients (F=504.74; 130.40; 41.78; 35.63; P<0.05 respectively) compared with control subjects. CD4 was significantly (p<0.05) lower in HIV patients (F=60.57) compared with control subjects.ELT, PV PFC and RDW were significantly higher (P<0.05) in HIV patients on ART (t=10.25; 5.14; 2.11; 5.20) compared with HIV patients not on ART. This study showed that HIV patients especially those on ART have impaired blood flow and derranged fibrinolytic activity which predispose them to increased cardiovascular risk. Hence integration of routine laboratory analysis of haemorheologic and fibrinolytic parameters into HIV management scheme is recommended for more effective HIV patients’care.

Keywords: Haemorheologic, Fibrinolytic activity, HIV seropositive subjects, Nnewi.