Importance of biochemical exploration of the liver in the control of disease progression in people living with HIV/AIDS and coinfected by HIV and Hepatitis C virus in Cameroon.

Abstract

Viral infection continues to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the world in particular those caused by the Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and the Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The aim of this study was to evaluate the importance of the biochemical exploration of the liver function in the control of disease progression in people living with HIV/AIDS and co-infected by HIV and hepatitis C virus. Sera from 75 patients positive for HIV were screened for HCV antibody by immuno-chromatographic test in Yaoundé central hospital, from November 2015 to February 2016. The biochemical parameters (AST, ALT, CB, TB, γ-GT, ALP and creatinin), as well as CD4 T cell level determination were assessed following standard procedures. A second blood sample was taken from HIV mono-infected and HIV/ HCV co-infected after three months. Socio-demographic data were also collected. The data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 22.1 statistical software and p<0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Amongst 75 study patients, 10 (13.3%) were HIV/HCV co-infected. The results obtained showed that, the activity of γ-GT was significantly higher (P <0.0001) in HIV/HCV co-infected patients compared to HIV mono-infected patients. The concentration of total bilirubin was also significantly higher in HIV/HCV co-infected patients (P = 0.015). Biochemical analysis using the second blood sample carried out 3 months later, after first sample, showed a significant increase of creatinin observed in HIV monoinfected patients, but no significant increase of some biochemical parameters (ALT, Creatinin, total Bilirubin, conjugated Bilirubin) was observed in HIV/HCV co-infected patients. In HIV / HCV co-infected patients, the first blood sample showed a significant increase of γ-GT (118.36±75.95 IU) compared to HIV mono-infected patients, in the Yaoundé Central Hospital. From this observation, hepatic damage should be evaluated by analyzing biochemical parameters.

Key words: Liver enzyme, Co-infection, HIV, HCV, control