Evaluation of Haematoimmunological, Erythropoietic Growth Factor and Virological Status in HIV-Patients

Background: Human Immunodeficiency Virus reduces immune status and diminishes haematological values causing decreased or ineffective haematopoiesis in HIV-infected individuals. Aim: To evaluate haematoimmunological, erythropoietic growth factor and virological status in HIV-patients. Methodology: This study was carried out at Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti. One hundred samples each were collected from HIV positive subjects on ART and ART-naïve, one hundred samples were collected from apparently healthy individuals as control. Six milliliters of whole blood were collected from each subject; 3mls of whole blood was dispensed into K2EDTA bottle for immediate analysis of haematological parameters using haematology analyzer, CD4 and CD8 count were analyzed using flow cytometer. The remaining 3ml of blood was dispensed into plain bottle, serum was extracted for erythropoietin analysis using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique and viral load using polymerase chain reaction. Results: Mean values of RBC indices CD4, CD4/CD8, EPO, TWBC and LYM among ART-naïve were significantly lower (p<0.05) compared to ART and control subjects. Mean values of CD8, VL, NEU, MONO, EOSIN and BASO in ART-naïve were significantly higher (p<0.05) compared to ART and control subjects. Conclusion: HIV infection suppresses erythropoietic growth factor, haematoimmunological, and virological parameters as observed in the study. However, there is an improvement in HIV subjects on ART compared with ART-naïve, this suggested that there is positive response to antiretroviral therapy in HIV patients