LONGITUDINAL CHANGES IN THE IRON PROFILES OF HIV PARTICIPANTS BEFORE AND DURING TREATMENT AT NNAMDI AZIKIWE UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL NNEWI

Abstract

HIV infection is associated with significant iron alterations ranging from iron deficiency to iron overload with faster disease progression, immune dysfunction and higher mortality. This study was conducted to provide information on the iron profile of patients with HIV on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and those not on ART. Blood samples were collected from 160 subjects. 80 HIV-seropositive individuals were tested at baseline, 4 months, and 8 months, 80 apparently healthy individuals with HIV seronegative as control. The total iron, total iron binding capacity, transferrin, and ferritin levels of the subjects were determined using standard methods after obtaining ethics approval and informed consent from the subjects. ANOVA, t-test, and Bonfereri post hoc test were used for statistical analysis. There were significant positive correlations between transferrin and total iron and between ferritin and total iron binding capacity (r =0.569, p- =0.022; r =0.671, p =0.004). The findings showed that iron profiles played significant roles in the understanding and management of anemia in patients with HIV infection. This study underscored the importance of early HIV screening, timely treatment and continuous monitoring, especially in a resource-limited setting.