Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Long-Term Effect of HAART on Biochemical Profiles of HIV/AIDS Patients in a Tertiary Health Facility in Benin City, Nigeria

Shakirat I Bello^1,3, Abel N Onunu², Patrick O Erah⁴

¹Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin; ²Department of Internal Medicine, University of Benin Teaching Hospital; ³Department of Clinical Pharmacy & Pharmacy Practice; ⁴Pharmacotherapy Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria.

For correspondence:- Patrick Erah Email: patrick.erah@uniben.edu Tel:+2348055263622

Received: 8 July 2014 Accepted: 11 October 2014 Published: 24 November 2014

Citation: Bello SI, Onunu AN, Erah PO. Long-Term Effect of HAART on Biochemical Profiles of HIV/AIDS Patients in a Tertiary Health Facility in Benin City, Nigeria. Trop J Pharm Res 2014; 13(11):1941-1946 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v13i11.24

© 2014 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To assess the long-term effect of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on biochemical parameters of HIV-infected patients in University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City, Nigeria.

Methods: HIV/AIDS patients on HAART for 2 - 8 years (297), those who were not on HAART (112, positive control), and healthy subjects (103, negative contr`ol) were recruited in the Infectious Diseases Clinic (IDC) of UBTH. Their sera were assayed for biochemical parameters. WHOQoL bref instrument was used to assess patients’ Quality of life (QoL).

Results: Patients who have been on HAART had significantly elevated ALT and AST levels (p < 0.001) but mild liver toxicity. QoL of these patients was not significantly different from that of the healthy controls. The levels of Na⁺ (133.4 ± 5.2 mmol/l), K⁺ (3.6 ± 0.4 mmol/l) and Cl^- (101.3 ± 4.0 mmol/l) were significantly lower in patients on HAART than those of the positive (137.5 ± 5.1, 3.9 ± 0.5, 104.3 ± 5.7 mmol/l respectively, p < 0.001). Also, levels of creatinine (0.8 ± 0.2 mg/dl), TBil (0.5 ± 0.2 mg/dl), and CB (0.3 ± 0.5 mg/dl) were significantly higher in patients on HAART than those of either the positive (0.7 ± 0.3, 0.4 ± 0.2, 0.2 ± 0.1 mg/dl) or negative (0.7 ± 0.3, 0.3 ± 0.1, 0.2 ± 0.1 mg/dl) controls respectively (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: Treatment with HAART for 2 - 8 years may not produce severe hepatotoxicity in HIV/AIDS patient though mild liver toxicity should be expected. The patients’ QoL was not negatively affected by the use of HAART for 2 - 8 years.

Keywords: Biochemical parameters, HIV/AIDS, Long-term HAART, Quality of life (QoL)