Immunological and Hematological Profiles of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Positive Patients on Antiretroviral Treatment Followed at Institute Pasteur of Ivory Coast

Aims: The immune system and some of the organs of HIV positive patients may be subject of some disruptions caused by Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART). This study has been initiated in order to assess the impact of ART on the immunological and hematological parameters of People Living with HIV (PLHIV) followed at Institute Pasteur of Ivory Coast (IPIC).

Methodology: This cross-sectional study took place from August 2012 to August 2013 on 45 HIV-positive patients under first line ART, aged from 19 to 63 years of both genders with 30 women and 15 men. Three therapeutic treatments have been used during the study and are: the determination of CD4+ T-lymphocytes and the blood cells count have been determined before the beginning of ART. Profiles for CD4+ and blood cells count were studied every 15 days (D15), 6 months (M6) and 12 months (M12) after taking ART.

Results: This study showed that CD4+ T-lymphocytes count was lower at first than 200 cells/mm3, has increased significantly from (P< 0.0001) to values greater than 350 cells/mm3 and restored the level of hemoglobin to its standard values after one year of antiretroviral treatment. With the exception of the TDF+FTC+EFV, all therapeutic combinations showed a neutropenia and a macrocytosis. These anomalies could be related to the presence of lamivudine (3TC) in the therapeutic combinations.

Conclusion: This study showed that the ART restore the immune system, but could be a cause of anemia in the long term. Consequently, their use by HIV positives patients should be accompanied by some anti-anaemic treatment.