An assessment of renal functions in HIV-seropositive patients at Ebonyi State University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, South Eastern Nigeria

Abstract

In order to assess the renal functions of HIV infected subjects receiving cares at Ebonyi State University Teaching Hospital (EBSUTH), Abakaliki, 60 consenting HIV seropositive individuals; grouped into HIV⁺not on HAART (n = 30) and HIV⁺ on HAART (n = 30) with 29 apparently healthy HIV seronegative volunteers matched for age recruited between April and September 2009 were investigated. Plasma total protein, albumin, urea and creatinine and urine protein were analysed using standard laboratory techniques.  Approximately sixty eight (67.5%) of the participants were female with mean age of 31.67 ± 11.10 years. While total protein was significantly (p < 0.05) lower in the HIV patients than the control, HIV⁺ on HAART had higher (p > 0.05) level than HIV⁺ not on HAART (7.02 ± 0.90 g/dl vs. 6.92 ± 1.31 g/dl).  However, HIV⁺ on HAART had significantly higher albumin level than either HIV⁺ not on HAART or controls. Significantly higher proportions of HIV infected subjects had proteinuria with subjects on HAART having lower proportion than their counterparts not on HAART. Also significantly higher levels of plasma urea and creatinine were found in HIV⁺ not on HAART when compared with HAART naïve patients or control but higher in patients on HAART than in controls. These findings revealed that renal dysfunction exists in HIV infected patients, irrespective of HAART, but more pronounced in patients not receiving HAART.