Pattern of serum amylase activity in HIV seropositive subjects on anti-retroviral therapy

Abstract

The present study was designed to assess the impact of antiretroviral therapy (ART) combinations of Nevirepine, Lamivudine and stavudine on the pancrease using serum amylase activity as indicator for pancreatic impairment. For this study 20 symptomatic HIV subjects (female =12, male=8) were recruited prior to ART and followed-up for 4 months into ART. Similarly, 20 HIV seronegative subjects (female =10, male =10) were also recruited as control subjects. Blood sample was collected at pre-ART, 2 months and 4 months into ART from the symptomatic HIV subjects but once from the control subjects for HIV screening, determination of CD4+T cell and serum amylase activity using standard laboratory methods. The result showed significant serum amylase activity by 4 months into ART compared with corresponding value in the control subjects (p<0.05) but not with the pre-ART value of the symptomatic HIV subjects (p>0.1). sex distribution showed significant serum amylase activity amongst the male symptomatic HIV subjects by 4 months into ART (p<0.05).the CD4+T cell count was not significantly different by 4 months into ART compared with either corresponding value in the control subjects or pre-ART value of the symptomatic HIV subjects. Female symptomatic HIV subjects presented with better improvement in CD4+ T cell count over the period of study. The finding of the present study showed possible impact of the ART combination on the pancrease as evident by raised serum activity of amylase while there was short-term immunologic improvement as evident by recovery of CD4+ T cell count. Although the ART combination succeeded at improving the immune status, this was at the expense of the pancrease. This could create increase burden of diabetic mellitus amongst HIV subjects.

Journal of Biomedical Investigation Vol. 5 (1) 2007: pp. 44-48