Abstract
BackgroundPeople living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) frequently have abnormal blood counts including anemia, leucopenia and thrombocytopenia. The role of infection with plasmodia on these hematological parameters in PLWHA is not well known. In this study we compared selected hematological parameters between malaria positive and negative PLWHA.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study of PLWHA attending the Douala Laquintinie hospital. After obtaining consent, demographic and clinical data were obtained via a standardized questionnaire. Blood samples collected for hematological assays were run using an automated full blood counter. Malaria parasitaemia was determined by blood smear microscopy.ResultsA total of 238 adult PLWHA were enrolled, 48.3% of who were on antiretroviral therapy and 24.8% of whom had malaria parasitaemia. The respective mean (±SD) of hemoglobin level, RBC count, WBC count, platelet count, lymphocyte count and CD4+ T cell counts in malaria co-infected patients versus non-infected patients were: 10.8(±1.9) g/dl versus 11.4(±2.0)g/dl; 3,745,254(±793,353) cells/µl versus 3,888,966(±648,195) cells/µl; 4,403(±1,534) cells/µl versus 4,920(±1,922) cells/µl; 216,051(±93,884) cells/µl versus 226,792(±98,664) cells/µl; 1,846(±711) cells/µl versus 2,052(±845) cells/µl and 245(±195) cells/µl versus 301(±211) cells/µl. All these means were not statistically significantly different from each other.ConclusionThere was no significant difference in studied hematological parameters between malaria positive and negative PLWHA. These data suggest little or no impact of malaria infection. Hematological anomalies in PLWHA in this area need not be necessarily attributed to malaria. These need to be further investigated to identify and treat other potential causes.
Highlights
Malaria and HIV are two important causes of morbidity and mortality in Africa
Over two-thirds of people living with HIV/ AIDS (PLWHA) are found in sub-Saharan, a region in which malaria is endemic [1]
Malaria is a life-threatening infection with an estimated 216 million cases and 655,000 deaths per year globally, with approximately 91% of these deaths occurring in sub-Saharan Africa [3]
Summary
Malaria and HIV are two important causes of morbidity and mortality in Africa. Over two-thirds of people living with HIV/ AIDS (PLWHA) are found in sub-Saharan, a region in which malaria is endemic [1]. Studies in regions of stable malaria transmission have noted higher parasite rates in co-infections than in mono infections of malaria or HIV; increased incidence of severe malaria in co-infected HIV-positive individuals, and increased mother-to-child transmission of HIV in HIV-positive mothers with placental malaria [7,8].some of these studies reported a reduction in the following blood parameters: hemoglobin concentrations, erythrocyte sedimentation rates (ESR), packed cell volume (PCV), platelet count, differential lymphocyte counts and CD4+ T cell counts in co-infected patients compared to patients with single infections of either type [5,9,10]. In this study we compared selected hematological parameters between malaria positive and negative PLWHA
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