The Effect of Co-infection with Hepatitis C Virus on Incidence of Anaemia, Liver Transaminases and Immunological Markers among HIV Patients on HAART in South West (Osun State) Nigeria

Introduction: It is becoming clear that a major complication of HIV patients on HAART is co-infection with hepatitis C and its attendant sequalae such as liver cirrhosis and carcinoma. The aim is to determine the prevalence of anaemia, transaminitis in these co-infected patients.
Materials and Methods: Three groups of patients were studied. There were a total of 44 male and 106 females included in the study. No children were among. Those co-infected with both HIV and HCV (group I), HIV only (group II) and negative for both viruses (Group III). Each group consists of 50 patients each. HIV status was determined utilizing determine and Unigold to detect HIV antibodies. HCV was determined by detecting the anti-HCV antibody (IgG) using third generation ELISA kit from DIA.PRO, Italy. The haematological indices were determined using the Sysmex haematology analyser. Liver transaminases were determined from the sera of the participants using Randox kits and absolute CD4 positive lymphocyte cells were determined using Partec cyflow (SL Green). The results were statistically analysed.
Results: No case of anaemia was detected. CD4 counts in group I patients (HIV /HCV positive) and group II patients were clearly reduced. The CD 4 counts were markedly reduced when compared to the controls (group III) P<0.005. The liver enzymes were markedly raised in co-infected patients.
Conclusion: The major observations in our group of co-infected patients was marked transaminitis and reduced CD 4 counts in co-infected patients. It is necessary to determine HCV genotypes to explain why our patients have not presented with increased cirrhosis and hepatic carcinoma.