BLOOD CHEMISTRY AND PLATELET SEROTONIN UPTAKE AS ALTERNATIVE METHOD OF TRACKING HIV/AIDS

Abstract

A cross sectional study was conducted to investigate the blood chemistry and platelet serotonin uptake as alternative method of determining HIV disease stage in HIV/AIDS patients. Whole blood was taken from subjects at the Human Virology of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research. Subjects were judged suitable for the various investigations by means of a questionnaire. The Genie II HIV diagnostic kit was used to confirm HIV positive status. HIV positive subjects were grouped in to two: those receiving antiretroviral therapy were referred to as the ARV group and those not on antiretroviral therapy were designated as non-ARV group. Each group was further sub-divided according to the Centers for Disease Control 1993 classification of HIV disease. HIV negative subjects must have been tested no later than two months to the sample collection date and must not lead a high-risk lifestyle. Serum was used to assay for blood chemistry activities with Randox analytical reagents. Blood platelets were prepared from one milliliter of whole blood and platelet serotonin uptake rates were determined. The serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) of non-ARV subjects was the only blood chemistry parameter that showed any significant variation from normal (p<0.05). The mean activity of this enzyme was 28.4 ± 5.29 U/L compared to a normal value of 12 U/L. A disease stage-related variation was observed. Platelet serotonin uptake rates of the two HIV positive groups showed no significant difference with the HIV negative control. The data obtained showed that serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase activity is significantly increased in HIV/AIDS patients in a manner that is disease stage related. However, serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase, bilirubin, triglycerides, amylase, serum creatinine, and alkaline phosphatase showed no significant variation from normal values. Platelet serotonin uptake of HIV subjects was not significantly different from the control.


Key Words: Blood chemistry, platelet serotonin uptake, HIV/AIDS


Afr. J. Clin. Exper. Microbiol. 2004; 5(2): 155 - 159