The Preterm Effect of Antiretroviral Drugs on Total Lymphocyte Cells and CD4 Cells in HIV-Infected Pregnant Women

Okeke Chukwubike Udoka,Ukibe Solomon Nwabueze

doi:10.4172/2155-9864.1000353

Abstract

Background: HIV infected pregnant women are placed on antiretroviral drugs for treatment and to avoid maternal to child transmission of HIV. This study was carried out to investigate the effects of the antiretroviral drugs (ARD) on CD4 and Total Lymphocyte cell count (TLC) among these women. Method: A total of 120 women participated in this study at Bori General Hospital Nigeria. Sixty (60) of them were seropositive to HIV while 60 were seronegative. Blood sample was collected from both groups of women at 2nd and 3rd trimester. The seropositve group was placed on ARD (Nevirapine, Zidovudine) after initial collection of sample at 2 nd trimester. CD4 count and TLC were estimated in these samples using Cyflow machine and manual method respectively. Result: CD4 count and TLC were significantly (p 0.05) difference. Conclusion: Reduction of CD4 cell count and TLC at 2nd trimester in HIV- infected pregnant women showed that HIV infection depleted these immunologic markers in pregnancy. The administration of ARD from second trimester boosted the CD4 cell count and TLC among these infected pregnant women before delivery. Progressive increase in TLC alongside CD4 cell count among the women on ARD suggests that TLC could be used as a surrogate to monitor progress of treatment among HIV-infected pregnant women in resource limited settings.

Highlights

Antiretroviral drugs (ARD) are medications for the treatment of infections caused by retroviral, primarily Human immunodefficiency virus (HIV)
Reduction of CD4 cell count and Total Lymphocyte cell count (TLC) at 2nd trimester in HIV- infected pregnant women showed that HIV infection depleted these immunologic markers in pregnancy
Progressive increase in TLC alongside CD4 cell count among the women on antiretroviral drugs (ARD) suggests that TLC could be used as a surrogate to monitor progress of treatment among HIV-infected pregnant women in resource limited settings

Summary

Introduction

Antiretroviral drugs (ARD) are medications for the treatment of infections caused by retroviral, primarily Human immunodefficiency virus (HIV). Different classes of antiretroviral drugs act at different stages of the HIV life cycle/parts and they are reverse transcriptase enzyme inhibitors (e.g., zidovudine, lamivudine and Nevirapine), Protease enzyme inhibitors (e.g. lopinavir), fusion of HIV and host cell inhibitors (maraviroc), Integrase enzyme inhibitors (e.g., Bevirimat and Virecom). These drugs can be used singly, but gold standard (combination therapy) for AIDS treatment is advocated to maximize potency, minimize toxicity and diminishes the risk for resistance development by the HIV. The prevalence rate of HIV infection in pregnant women in African countries is in a worrisome state. This study was carried out to investigate the effects of the antiretroviral drugs (ARD) on CD4 and Total Lymphocyte cell count (TLC) among these women

Methods

Findings

Discussion

Conclusion