The impacts of first line highly active antiretroviral therapy on serum selenium, CD4 count and body mass index: a cross sectional and short prospective study

• Published in: The Pan African medical journal Vol. 15; p. 97
• Main Authors: Akinboro, Adeolu Oladayo, Onayemi, Olaniyi, Ayodele, Olugbenga Edward, Mejiuni, Ayodele David, Atiba, Adeniran Samuel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Uganda The African Field Epidemiology Network 12-07-2013
• Subjects: Adult; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; Body Mass Index; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; HIV Infections - blood; HIV Infections - drug therapy; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Nigeria - epidemiology; Overweight - epidemiology; Prospective Studies; Selenium - blood; Nigeria; HIV/AIDS; Selenium; CD4 count; BMI; HAART
• ISSN: 1937-8688
• DOI: 10.11604/pamj.2013.15.97.2524

The relationship that exists between body weights, serum selenium and immunological markers of HIV/AIDS continue to provoke more researches in the recent times. The objectives of this study were to examine baseline body mass index, CD4 count and serum selenium and to prospectively assess the impacts of HAART on same parameters 48 weeks post HAART among HIV patients.
A cohort comprising 140 newly diagnosed HIV positive were prospectively studied. Anthropometric measurements, serum selenium and CD4 count were assessed at diagnosis and 48 weeks post HAART.
The mean age for patients was 35±8.8 years; 68% was female. Patients' mean weight was 56.79±10.22kg, BMI; 21.59±3.53, serum selenium; 0.55 ± 0.45µmol/L and CD4 count; 288.36 ± 232.23 at the baseline. At diagnosis, 47 (33.6%) were in stage 1, 49 (35.0%) in stage 2, 26 (18.6%) and 18 (12.9%) were in stage 3 and 4 respectively. Similarly, most patients had normal body mass index, 94 (67.14%), 26 (18.57%) were underweight, (12.86%) were overweight and two (1.43%) were obese at diagnosis. At 48 weeks post HAART, the mean weight, BMI, serum selenium and CD4 count were significantly increased.
HAART repleted CD4 count and serum selenium, Post HAART overweight was associated with lesser CD4 count reconstitution and selenium repletion. A renew call for weight monitoring in HAART era.