Immunological and clinical progress of HIV/AIDS patients on antiretroviral therapy at a health center in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Abstract

Objective: The objective of the following study was to assess the immunological and clinical progress of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART) at a health center in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Materials and Methods: A retrospective follow-up study was carried out using the medical records of HIV/AIDS patients who initiated ART between August 2005 and 2007. A total of 83 patients were included in the study. The records were used to get a 1 year progress since ART initiation. Results: At ART initiation the median CD4 + cell count was 127 cells/mm 3 and the median weight 50 kg. Out of the total patients 47% were ambulatory and 16% were bedridden in their functional status. The regimen initiated by most patients, 59 (71%), was "Stavudine/Lamivudine/Nevirapine (D4T/3TC/NVP)". After 12 months on ART, 63 (76%) of the patients were still actively following the treatment. After the same period, 12% of them were deceased. The functional status of 69 (83.1%) of the patients on ART improved to "working" status after 6 months. At the end of the 1 year on ART all the 63 patients, who were actively following the treatment, improved to "working" status. Weight of the patients improved to 54 and 56 kg after 6 and 12 months respectively. The increase in the CD4 + cell count was 92 and 118 cells/mm 3 after 6 and 12 months respectively. Conclusion: This study showed that immunological and clinical status of the patients had improved within the 1 year of therapy as evidenced by increase and improvement in the functional status, median weight and CD4 + cell count