title: Relationship of long-term highly active antiretroviral therapy on salivary flow rate and CD4 Count among HIV-infected patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine if long-term highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) therapy alters salivary flow rate and also to compare its relation of CD4 count with unstimulated and stimulated whole saliva.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was performed on 150 individuals divided into three groups. Group I (50 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seropositive patients, but not on HAART therapy), Group II (50 HIV-infected subjects and on HAART for less than 3 years called short-term HAART), Group III (50 HIV-infected subjects and on HAART for more than or equal to 3 years called long-term HAART). Spitting method proposed by Navazesh and Kumar was used for the measurement of unstimulated and stimulated salivary flow rate. Chi-square test and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used for statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean CD4 count was 424.78 ± 187.03, 497.82 ± 206.11 and 537.6 ± 264.00 in the respective groups. Majority of the patients in all the groups had a CD4 count between 401 and 600. Both unstimulated and stimulated whole salivary (UWS and SWS) flow rates in Group I was found to be significantly higher than in Group II (P < 0.05). Unstimulated salivary flow rate between Group II and III subjects were also found to be statistically significant (P < 0.05). ANOVA performed between CD4 count and unstimulated and stimulated whole saliva in each group demonstrated a statistically significant relationship in Group II (P < 0.05). There were no significant results found between CD4 count and stimulated whole saliva in each groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The reduction in CD4 cell counts were significantly associated with salivary flow rates of HIV-infected individuals who are on long-term HAART.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Panineeya Institute of Dental Sciences and Research Centre, Dilsukhnagar, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
authors.forename: J Vijay
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Panineeya Institute of Dental Sciences and Research Centre, Dilsukhnagar, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
authors.forename: P Venkat
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Baghirath
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Panineeya Institute of Dental Sciences and Research Centre, Dilsukhnagar, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
authors.forename: P Parameswar
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Naishadham
authors.affiliation: Research and Training, Nireekshana AIDS care Education and Training (ACET) Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
authors.forename: Sujai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Suneetha
authors.affiliation: Research and Training, Nireekshana AIDS care Education and Training (ACET) Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
authors.forename: Lavanya
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Suneetha
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Panineeya Institute of Dental Sciences and Research Centre, Dilsukhnagar, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sreedevi
keywords: CD4 count; highly active antiretroviral therapy; human immune deficiency virus; salivary flow rates