Increased oxidative stress condition found in different stages of HIV disease in patients undergoing antiretroviral therapy in Umuahia (Nigeria)

Abstract

Context: Effective diagnostic tools for management of HIV disease progression in Sub-Saharan Africa is inadequate considering the endemic nature of the infection in the region.

Objective: To elucidate the clinical implication of oxidative stress (measured as Malondialdehyde, MDA) as additional biomarker of HIV disease progression and its implication in HIV clinical management.

Materials and methods: A total of 250 individuals were recruited for the study. FACScan cytometry and spectrophotometric methods were employed in assessing T-lymphocytes (CD3, CD4, CD8) and MDA respectively.

Results: MDA concentration increased significantly (P < 0.05) in highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) subjects by 12.72% in category 1, 9.75% in III and in category II (4.63%) on comparison with non-HAART subjects. In subjects taking HAART, 22.2%, 56.3%, and 22.2% were found to be in category I, II and III, respectively, with a corresponding non-HAART values of 15.6%, 45.6% and 38.9%. However, Spearman’s rank correlation (P < 0.001) statistics of MDA and HIV categories showed a negative correlation in all the categories (I, II and III).

Discussion and conclusion: These findings suggest that MDA may be an additional clinical factor in assessing progression of HIV disease; however, necessary fortification of regimen with antioxidant may help reduce the high MDA concentration in the disease progression of the infection.

Keywords::

• HIV
• MDA
• AIDS
• Nigeria
• heterosexual
• oxidative stress
• antiretroviral

Acknowledgements

The authors are appreciative to Emerging Health and Environmental Initiative (EMHEI) an NGO based in Nigeria for their Assistance in study population recruitment and use of their materials.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest.