Evaluation of immunoglobulin M and A level in individuals with HIV-TB co-infection in NAUTH, Nnewi

Abstract

This study evaluated the serum concentrations of Immunoglobulin M and Immunoglobulin A in individuals with TB, HIV and HIV-TB co-infection in Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi South East, Nigeria. A total of 80 participants (males=44; females=36), with a mean age of 35.83±7.3 were randomly recruited by convenient sampling technique from patients attending TB-DOTS and HIV Clinics in NAUTH and grouped as: TB positive individuals (Group I), HIV-TB co-infection (Group II), HIV positives (Group III), and control (Group IV). 5mls of venous blood samples were collected from each participants using plain containers for estimation of immunoglobulin A and M classes by Immuno-turbidimetric Method. The results obtained showed that mean serum levels of IgM (78.14±42.41 and IgA (374.45±15.69) were significantly increased in participants with HIV-TB co-infection when compared with TB (49.21±3.67) and (315.41±52.79), HIV (41.91±25.97) and (342.23±92.67 and control groups (55.82±35.36) and (322.66±71.34) at p<0.05 respectively. There were significant increases in the mean serum IgM (p=0.048), IgA (p=0.000) and age (p=0.001) when group I participants were compared with group II individuals respectively, while IgM showed significant increase (p=0.013) in group II than in group III only. Furthermore, participants in group II showed significantly increased mean serum IgA levels compared to control (p=0.005), whereas significant negative correlations were seen in age and gender in various groups studied (p<0.05). Thus, evaluation of these antibodies may be used alongside other systemic markers and parameters to aid in predicting disease severity and progression and also monitoring response to treatment. This approach could further complement the current TB management especially in HIV-TB co-infection.