Thrombocytopenia according to antiretroviral drug combinations, viremia and CD4 lymphocytes among HIV-infected patients in Cameroon: a snapshot from the City of Yaoundé

• Published in: BMC research notes Vol. 12; no. 1; pp. 632 - 5
• Main Authors: Nka, Alex Durand, Sosso, Samuel Martin, Fokam, Joseph, Bouba, Yagai, Teto, Georges, Simo Rachel, Rachel, Tiga, Aline, Yimga, Junie, Nukenine, Elias Nchiwan, Nanfack, Aubin Joseph, Takou, Désiré, Aroga, Zélateur, Colizzi, Vittorio, Ndjolo, Alexis
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central 26-09-2019; BMC
• Subjects: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome; Adolescent; Adult; AIDS; Anti-Retroviral Agents - therapeutic use; Antiretroviral agents; Antiretroviral drugs; Antiretroviral therapy; Antiretroviral triple therapy; Blood platelets; Blood tests; Cameroon; CD4; CD4 antigen; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; Child; Child, Preschool; Cities; Cross-Sectional Studies; Drug Combinations; Drug therapy; Female; Hepatitis; HIV; HIV Infections - complications; HIV Infections - drug therapy; HIV Infections - virology; HIV-1 - drug effects; HIV-1 - physiology; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Immune status; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Infections; Lymphocytes; Male; Middle Aged; Research Note; Ribonucleic acid; RNA; Thrombocytopenia; Thrombocytopenia - blood; Thrombocytopenia - complications; Thrombocytopenia - diagnosis; Variables; Viral load; Viremia; Viremia - drug therapy; Viremia - virology; Young Adult; Cameroon; Cities; Thrombocytopenia; CD4; Cameroon; Antiretroviral triple therapy; HIV; Viral load
• ISSN: 1756-0500; 1756-0500
• DOI: 10.1186/s13104-019-4664-7

Thrombocytopenia is an abnormal decrease in blood platelets, which can affect the prognosis of people living with HIV (PLHIV). In order to assess the burden of this haematological disorder, we evaluated the frequency of thrombocytopenia according to antiretroviral drug combinations, viremia and the immune status of PLHIV.
A cross-sectional and analytical study was conducted from June to November 2016 among 310 PLHIV at the "Chantal BIYA" International Reference Centre, Yaoundé, Cameroon. Overall rate of thrombocytopenia was 19.0% (59/310). The rate of thrombocytopenia was 64.6% (42/65) versus 6.9% (17/245) in ART-naïve versus ART-treated patients respectively, p < 0.0001. Following viral load, rate of thrombocytopenia was 15.8% (20/130) in those with undetectable viral load, and 34.1% (27/79) with viral loads > 3 log
RNA/ml (p = 0.03). As concerns CD4-count, rate of thrombocytopenia was 16.2% (42/259) in those with ≥ 200 CD4/mm
versus 33.3% (17/51) with < 200 CD4/mm
(p = 0.0003). After adjusting for sex, ART, viral load and CD4, Viral load and ART exposure were significantly associated with decreased risk of thrombocytopenia (p < 0.05). Thrombocytopenia occurs especially among ART-naïve, high viremia and severe immune-compromised patients. Interestingly, ART coverage appears as an independent factor in preventing the occurrence of thrombocytopenia.