Haematologic Indices in Pulmonary Tuberculosis with or without HIV Co-Infection in South Eastern Nigeria

To evaluate the changes in haematologic indices in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) with or without Human Immune Deficiency Virus (HIV) co-infection in South Eastern Nigeria. The study population included 116 subjects (60 = males; 56 = females), recruited from 2 study centers: mile 4 Hospital Abakaliki Ebonyi State and Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Teaching  Hospital Nnewi, Anambra State, both in Nigeria. PTB + HIV (n = 20); PTB infection ( n = 27) and HIV sereopositive (n = 28). The PTB and HIV negative; control subjects were 41 (n = 41). Blood samples collected from subjects in Ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA) container were used for the analysis of the Haemtological cells count,  packed cell volume (PCV) and Haemoglobin estimation using routine methods as described (Dacie and Lewis, 1984). HIV screening was done with Stat pak kit and confirmatory test by Western blot method. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was by Westergren method. Haemoglobin estimation (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV) values were significantly lower in patients with PTB (11.27±1.62 g/dl, 0.35±0.04 l/l) compared with control values (13.67±1.46 g/dl 0.41 ± 0.05 l/l) (p < 0.05). Patients with HIV seropositive showed significantly low PCV values of (0.36 ± 0.04 l/l) compared with the control subjects (0.41 ± 0.05 l/l) (p < 0.05). PTB patients showed higher TWBC counts (6062.5 ± 1481.83109/l) when compared those with HIV infection (3841.38±735.58 x 109/l) as well as normal control value (4363.64±551.66 x 109/l) (p < 0.05). Male and female values compared in this work showed no significant difference (p > 0.05). The results showed that the effect of PTB and HIV infection have caused some haematological deregulation. It also showed that sex has little or no effect on the studied parameters. Keywords: Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB); Human ImmunoDeficiency Virus (HIV) and Hematologic Indice

Evaluation of immunoglobulin classes (IgA, IgG and IgM) levels and complement fixation activity in HIV infected subjects

The study was designed to evaluate the immunoglobulin A, G and M levels and complement fixation activity in HIV infected participants, who were not administered antiretroviral therapy (ART). Eighty (80) HIV infected participants, aged between 15 – 55 years (38 ±10 years), were recruited for the study. Forty five (45) of the participants were classified as symptomatic HIV (stage ii), while the remaining 35 were classified asasymptomatic HIV (stage i). Similarly, 40 seronegative participants served as control. Blood samples were collected from the participants for the determination of HIV status by immunochromatography, HIV confirmation by Western blot, determination of immunoglobulin levels by immunoturbidimetry, and complement activity by complement fixation test. The IgG and IgA were significantly increased in symptomatic HIV infection compared with asymptomatic HIV infection (p0.05). The complement fixation activities decreased in HIV infected patients compared with the values in HIV seronegatives. The increase in IgA concentration with HIV infected participants may suggest existence of mucosal infections, while theincrease in IgG concentration in HIV infected participants may suggest evidence of increased opportunistic infection requiring IgG response. The low level of complement activity in HIV infected participants maypredispose individuals with HIV infection to disease commonly controlled through immunological activity of the complement. Keywords: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG and IgM), complements