Plasma Levels of Total Proteins, Albumin, Globulin and Plasma Albumin/Globulin Ratio in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection in Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Abstract

Plasma levels of total protein, albumin and globulin were estimated in 25 HIV positive subjects and 25 age and sex-matched controls. Test subjects were recruited from the Haematology day Clinic and Medical wards of the
OAUTHC, lle-Ife. The controls were equally obtained from staff and students within the OAUTHC, lle-lfe who tested negative for H1V in the last six months. The albumin/globulin ratios were also computed for each group. This study was undertaken to determine the plasma levels of these biochemical analytes as well as their profiles in complications of Human Immunodeficiency virus /Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDs) subjects. The mean plasma levels of total protein and globulin in HIV positive subjects were significantly higher than those of their respective controls (p<0.005). Mean plasma albumin in HIV positive subjects was significantly lower (p<0.005) than for control subjects. The albumin/globulin ratio in HIV/AIDS subjects was the lowest when compared with the ratio of albumin/globulin obtained from HIV-infected subjects and the controls. We concluded that HIV infection (symptomatic and asymptomatic) alters plasma levels of total proteins, albumin, and globulin and albumin/globulin ratio.