Ocular complications in HIV positive patients on antiretroviral therapy in Ghana.

Alexander Martin-Odoom,Evelyn Yayra Bonney,Derek Kofi Opoku

doi:10.1186/s12886-016-0310-5

Abstract

BackgroundPatients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) usually develop some form of ocular complication in the different segments of the eye due to immune deficiency. In Ghana, data regarding ocular complications among HIV/AIDS patients is scarce. This study investigated the occurrence of ocular complications in HIV infected patients undergoing antiretroviral therapy at the Agogo Presbyterian Hospital in the Ashanti Region of Ghana.MethodsBlood samples were taken from 100 confirmed HIV infected patients. The CD4 + T cell count and WHO clinical staging were determined. The patients were taken through thorough ophthalmic assessments to determine any ocular complications.ResultsForty-eight patients (48 %) had at least one HIV-related ocular complication. These complications occurred more frequently among those with CD4 counts below 200 cells/μL. Of the participants with HIV-related ocular complications, 11 (23 %) had retinal microvasculopathy, 10 (21 %) showed allergic conjunctivitis, 7 (15 %) had HIV retinopathy and 7 (15 %) had conjunctival carcinoma. All the participants in the study were on first-line antiretroviral therapy; 68 % were females and 72 % were in the Stage 3 of the WHO Clinical Staging of HIV infection.ConclusionThe prevalence of ocular complications in HIV positive persons under treatment in Ghana is high. Lower CD4 + T cell counts coupled with age were predisposing factors to HIV-related ocular complications.

Highlights

Patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) usually develop some form of ocular complication in the different segments of the eye due to immune deficiency
A cluster of differentiation type 4 (CD4) + T lymphocytes count below 100 cells/ μL is associated with retinal or conjunctival microvasculopathy, Cytomegolovirus (CMV) retinitis, Varicella – Zoster Virus retinitis, cryptococcosis, microsporidiosis, HIV encephalopathy and progressive multifocal leucoencephalopathy [2]
Anterior segment involvement usually results in tumours and external infections while posterior segment involvement usually results in HIV-retinopathy and a number of Martin-Odoom et al BMC Ophthalmology (2016) 16:134 opportunistic infections of the retina and the choroid [7]

Summary

Introduction

Patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) usually develop some form of ocular complication in the different segments of the eye due to immune deficiency. In Ghana, data regarding ocular complications among HIV/AIDS patients is scarce. This study investigated the occurrence of ocular complications in HIV infected patients undergoing antiretroviral therapy at the Agogo Presbyterian Hospital in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. Up to 70 % of patients infected with HIV have been found to have developed some form of ocular complications [1]. The introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has led to a decrease in Ocular complications in HIV patients make management of such patients more difficult; if such manifestations can be picked up early, better management results could be achieved with such patients. The posterior segment complications usually lead to severe visual impairment or blindness if not detected and treated early [8]

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Results

Discussion

Conclusion