Study of Electrolyte Changes in Tuberculosis And Human Immune Deficiency Virus (HIV) Co-Infected with Tuberculosis Patients : A Hospital Based Study

Abstract

Tuberculosis is the commonest infection among HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) patients. This co-infection constitutes a major death threat in the world. Electrolyte disturbances have been reported in both Tuberculosis (TB) infection lone and TB-HIV co-infected patients. The main objectives of the study is to evaluate electrolyte imbalance among Tuberculosis (TB) patients alone and HIV co-infected with Tuberculosis (TB) patients. A total of 120 subjects participated in this study. They were divided in to 3 groups as follows. Group 1 contains 40 normal healthy controls without TB or HIV infection, group 2 contains 40 new positive cases of HIV co-infected with Tuberculosis (TB). All subjects were screened for the presence and absence of TB, HIV and the levels of electrolytes in plasma (sodium, potassium, and chloride) were estimated by electrolyte kit method by using semi-auto Analyzer. Level of plasma sodium in TB patients were significantly higher when compare with TB/HIV (141.1±1.21 vs 137.4±2.81 m eq/l) and healthy controls (135.9±1.37 meq/l). Plasma Potassium level significantly higher in TB/HIV patients when compared with Tuberculosis (4.10±0.49 VS 3.39±0.20 meq/l) and healthy controls (3.79±0.27 meq/l). Plasma chloride level was significantly higher in Tuberculosis (TB) patients compared with TB/HIV patients (107.3±1.3 VS 103.6±2.1 meq/l) and healthy controls (101.4±2.89meq/l). Hyperkalemia and hyponatremia and hypochloremia are commonly encountered electrolyte disturbances in TB/HIV infection. Hypernatremia and hypokalemia and hyperchloremia are the electrolyte disturbances in Tuberculosis (TB) patients. We concluded that Electrolyte balance monitoring in patients with Tuberculosis is recommended once treatment is recommended. Because of high incidence of the electrolyte disturbances with HIV infected patients, close monitoring and aggressive management are mandatory.