title: Crystalluria in HIV/AIDS patients on highly active anti-retroviral therapy in the Kumasi metropolis; a cross sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Crystalluria is associated with some highly active anti-retroviral therapies (HAART's) used in the management of HIV/AIDS.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study used light microscopy to establish the prevalence of crystalluria among HIV/AIDS patients on HAART and identified the routine crystals present in their urine.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this simple randomised cross-sectional study, 200 HIV/AIDS participants, comprising 150 on HAART and 50 HAART-naïve were recruited from the HIV clinic at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH). Urine and blood samples were collected, for urinalysis and the determination of the CD4 count, respectively. A well-structured pre-tested questionnaire was used to obtain socio-demographic data and clinical history of the participants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of crystalluria was higher among HIV-infected persons on HAART than those not on HAART (6.7% vs 4%; P = 0.733). Calcium oxalate and triple phosphate crystals were the crystal types present in their urine (3.5% and 2.5%, respectively) and was present only in HIV subjects on first line of treatment (without protease inhibitors). Participants aged between 40-50 years and those with hypersthenuria and acidic urine had the highest amount of crystalluria (41.6%, 83.3%, and 58.3%, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HAART is associated with crystalluria in HIV patients. Light microscopy will be of disgnostic value in resource limited settings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Technology, Medical Laboratory Division, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
authors.forename: Richard K D
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Ephraim
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Microbiology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
authors.forename: Ruth C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Brenyah
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
authors.forename: Richmond
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Osei
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Technology, Medical Laboratory Division, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
authors.forename: Bright D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Bossipe
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Technology, Medical Laboratory Division, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
authors.forename: Prince
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Adoba
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
authors.forename: Derick N M
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Osakunor
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Technology, Medical Laboratory Division, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
authors.forename: Hope
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Agbodzakey
keywords: Crystalluria; highly active antiretroviral therapy; human immunodeficiency virus; light microscopy; urinalysis