Changes in the Metabolic Profile of HIV Infected Subjects on Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Therapy (HAART)

Abstract

The metabolic profile of HIV/AIDS patient on HAART was investigated in comparison with HIV/AIDS patient who are HAART naive and also with the zero negative controls. Sixty (60) HIV subjects were used for the study and were carefully divided into two groups of thirty (30) each; group one were those on HAART and the other HAART naive while thirty (30) zero negative subjects were used as the control. Patients used for these studies are those who have been on the treatment for at least a year and not more than three years. Metabolic parameters assessed included serum total protein, albumin, globulin, electrolytes, creatinine and lipid profile. Results obtained reveals no significant (P > 0.05) changes in the serum electrolyte and creatinine concentrations in all groups and similar trend was also observed for total protein and albumin levels but a significant (P< 0.05) reduction was observed in the level of serum globulin concentration of patients on HAART (2.86±0.67) compared with the HAART naive (3.41±0.62). More so, there was significant (P<0.05) elevation in the serum total cholesterol concentration for the HAART group (150.9±15.01) compared with HAART naive (114.5±17.04) and similar trend was also observed for LDL-cholesterol which may be a possibly indication of altered lipid metabolism. Thus, patients on HAART should carry out routine biochemical check most especially lipid panel assessment to avoid risk of altered metabolism; lipid dystrophy etc.