Anti-Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Agents

This article gives a brief review of anti-retroviral agents with activity against the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) the causative agen of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). It also outlines the principles, mode of action of anti-HIV agents and their sites of therapeutic intervention. Zidovudine or Azidothymidine (AZT) remains the cornerstone of antiretroviral monotherapy and combination therapy. In the absence, at present, of a vaccine or cure for AIDS, the single most important option for curbing the scourge is through objective and constant dissemination of factual information about AIDS. Key words: HIV, AIDS, anti-retroviral therapy Journal of Medical Laboratory Sciences Vol.12(1) 2003: 1-1

Prevalence of Pulmonary Tuberculosis Among Subjects Infected with Human immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Strains 1 and 2

A total of 76 clinically and laboratory-confirmed human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected-patients, which comprised 45 from University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) and Central Hospital, Benin City and 31 from Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) and General Hospital, Lagos; were used in this study. Forty-six of them (22 males and 24 females) were infected with HIV–1, while 30 (16 males and 14 females), were infected with HIV–2. Demonstration of acid fast bacilli in their sputum samples (three consecutive early morning samples) was used for laboratory diagnosis of tuberculosis. HIV-1 patients with tuberculosis were 80.4% as against 56.7% of HIV–2 patients. There was a significant association between HIV strains and tuberculosis infectivity or distribution (X2: P 0.05). HIV – 1 has a greater capacity to reactivate or predispose HIV patient to tuberculosis