Author/Authors :
Denue, B.A. University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital - Department of Medicine, Nigeria , Gashau, W. University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital - Department of Medicine, Nigeria , Bello, H.S. University of Maiduguri - Department of Microbiology, Nigeria , Kida, I.M. University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital - Department of Medicine, Nigeria , Bakki, B. University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital - Department of Medicine, Nigeria , Ajayi, B. University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital - Department of Immunology, Nigeria
Abstract :
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.
