Abnormal Levels of γ-Glutamyl Transpeptidase (GGTP), ALT, AST in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1(HIV-1) Infection

Abstract

Background: Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection is associated with direct inflammation of hepatocytes leading to liver damage. Antiretroviral therapy, co-infection with other hepatotropic viruses, tumors, parasitic infestation and non-antiretroviral therapeutic drugs may also cause considerable hepatic damage in Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection. Hepatomegaly was seen as a common feature in both HIV infected asymptomatic and AIDS cases. With the advent of HAART, though the morbidity and mortality associated with HIV infection has considerably reduced, the cause of concern is the adverse drug reactions, hepatotoxicity, dyslipidemia and disturbed metabolism. Methods: The study was carried out at Apollo Health City, a tertiary care hospital between June 2010 to May 2011, which included 36 HIV seropositive and antiretroviral therapy naive individuals and 21 HIV seropositive patients presently on HAART since 3-4 months attending Integrated Counseling and Testing Centre (ICTC) situated at Area hospital Siddipet were enrolled in the study. A total of 25 Normal healthy individuals are included in the study as controls. The study group were screened for Hepatitis B and C viruses and excluded from the study if found positive for any of the hepatotropic viruses. Results: The study results showed serum concentrations of γ-Glutamyl Transpeptidase (GGTP), AST and ALT in HIV seropositive patients who are antiretrotherapy naive patients as 60.57±33.58, 22.25±11.85 and 35.14±30.11 respectively as compared to normal controls. Conclusion: The study results have clearly shown abnormal liver function tests in HIV patients who are not on HAART and revealed raised levels of serum GGTP, ALT and AST as compared to the normal healthy individuals. Results also have implicated the role of HAART in initiating liver damage even in the absence of other hepatotropic viruses as revealed by other studies. The influence of these and other factors, on the clinical progression of HIV infection should be reviewed in detail, both preceding and following treatment initiation [29].