Hyperfibrinogenemia and Reduced Plasma Protein C Levels in HIV-Infected Patients

Abstract

Background: Heamatological problems have been associated with human immunodeficiency virus infection. Hypercoagulability, in particular, thrombosis is becoming more common in HIV-positive patients. Aim: The goals of this study were to determine levels of plasma fibrinogen, protein C, Hemoglobin, and ESR among Sudanese HIV-positive patients. Materials and Methods: This is a case-control study, for this investigation, a total of 100 participants were recruited for this study. Fifty people were diagnosed with HIV, 25 of whom were males (50 percent) and 25 of whom were females (50 percent), with an average age of 35.5 years. Further fifty healthy people, 26 (52%) of whom were men and 24 (48%) of whom were women, with a mean age of 37.1 years, matched the case group. Fresh Poor Plasma was obtained by centrifuging citrated venous blood samples at 3000 rpm for 15 minutes. The fibrinogen level was determined using an automated coagulation analyzer. Total protein C level was measured by a fully-automated blood coagulation analyzer (SYSMEX CA-500’JAPAN). The haemoglobin parameter was measured from EDTA anticoagulant samples using the Sysmex KX 21-N automated haematological analyzer. In one hour, the ESR was done using a Westergren tube. Data was collected using a structured direct questionnaire. SPSS version 21 was used to analyse the data. Results: The current study discovered that in Sudanese HIV infection, the mean and standard deviation of plasma fibrinogen levels were statistically substantially higher than in the normal control group (370.5 ± 67 vs 214.7 ± 21 with P value 0.001). Protein C levels were statistically significantly lower in HIV positive patients compared with control group (0.6 ± 0.1 vs 1.3 ± 0.2 with P value 0.001). In HIV positive patients, haemoglobin was statistically substantially lower than in healthy people (10.8 ± 1.8 vs 13.7 ± 1.9, P value 0.01). The erythrocyte sedimentation rate was statistically significantly higher in HIV positive patients than in the control group, with (58.00 ± 27 vs 7.68 ± 3 with P value 0.00). Conclusions: HIV infected patients had higher plasma fibrinogen levels and lower haemoglobin levels than normal healthy control groups. In 16 percent of HIV positive patients, protein C deficiency was discovered. HIV-positive patients had significantly greater ESR.