Abstract
Introduction : haematological abnormalities are common findings in later stages of Human Immune Deficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDs). These Haematological abnormalities which are common findings in later stages of the infection usually results from bone marrow defects and immune cytopenias thereby allowing life threatening opportunistic infections to thrive. We conducted this study to determine the trend of haematological indices of HIV/AIDs patients at diagnosis and 144th week visit. Methods : a retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted. Case records of 434 HIV/AIDs patients who presented at the APIN clinic from January, 2011 to December, 2013 were retrieved from the electronic patient data base. Variables extracted were socio-demographics, commencement of antiretroviral treatment and haematological tests. Data was entered in Microsoft excel and analysed using Epi-info 7.2. Univariate analysis such as frequency and proportion were performed. Results : a total of 72 (16.6%) patients had complete records of which 55(68.2%) were females. Age-groups, 31 - 40 years had the highest frequency of HIV/AIDs. A mean age of 41.2 ± 10.3 was recorded. Civil servants 15 (20.8%) recorded the highest HIV/AIDs infection among other occupations taking antiretroviral drug. At presentation, 40 (55.6%) patients had anaemia however, the figure decreased to 19 (26.4%) after initiation of ART. 34 (38.8%) patients had neutropenia at diagnosis, and reduced to 28 (47.2%) on the 144th week. Leucocytes and platelets counts did not vary significantly from diagnosis to the 144th week of visit. Conclusion : haematological dysfunctions in HIV patients exist more at presentation, than after the commencement of ART. A significant drop in the neutrophils and haemoglobin level occur in course of effective ART. Routine monitoring of some haematological indices are important in the management of HIV/AIDs patients.
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