Dyslipidemia in HIV-1 Infected Subjects with Short Term Usage of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) in Benin City, Nigeria

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the short-term effects of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) (stavudine, lamivudine and nevirapine) on serum lipids of HIV-1 positive subjects in Benin City, Nigeria. Test group 1 (n=78) and test group 2 (n= 71) comprised HIV- 1 seropositive individuals on HAART for a period of one to three months; and five to six months respectively. Fifty five newly diagnosed HIV-1 positive subjects naïve to HAART served as control group 1 and sixty apparently healthy HIV-1 seronegative individuals served as control group 2. The blood samples obtained were analyzed for total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein and high-density lipoprotein using standard enzymatic methods. Total cholesterol of test group 2 (214.0±6.43mg/dL) was not significantly different from Test group 1 (202.4±5.09mg/dL), both were however significantly higher than control group 1 (159.3±5.09mg/dL) and control group 2 (101.6±3.76 mg/dL). Triglyceride concentration of test group 2 (106.6+11.95mg/dL) was not significantly different from test group 1 (135.8+9.88mg/dL), but were significantly different from control groups 1 and 2 (125.1+3.35mg/dL and 104.6+3.08mg/dL) respectively. Dyslipidemia could set in from 1 to 6 months of HAART usage in HIV-1 Positive subjects hence serum lipids should be monitored as early as one month of HAART commencement.

Keywords: Dyslipidemia, HIV chemotherapy (HAART), Lipid profile, HIV