title: Effects of first-line anti-retroviral therapy on blood coagulation parameters of HIV-infected patients attending a tertiary hospital at Abuja, Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Blood coagulation abnormalities are common in persons infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). However, few studies showed the association of these abnormalities with anti-retroviral therapy (ART).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This cross-sectional study investigated the effects of ART on blood coagulation parameters of patients infected with HIV attending HIV special clinics of the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH), Gwagwalada, Abuja, Nigeria.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 191 patients comprising 128 HIV subjects on ART (test subjects) and 63 other HIV patients not on ART (control subjects) were included in the study. CD4+ lymphocyte counts, platelet counts, prothrombin time (PT) and partial thromboplastin time with kaolin (PTTK) of subjects were determined using flow cytometry, automated hematology analyser and Quick one-stage methods respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the total test subjects, 21 (16.4%) were CD4 lymphopaenic, and the mean CD4+ cell count for the test subjects was statistically higher than that of the control subjects (578 versus 322 cells/ mm(3)) (p = 0.014). Eight (6.3%) of test subjects had prolong PTTK, and the mean values of PT and PTTK were statistically not significant between test subjects and control subjects (p = 0.358 and p= 0.141 respectively). Eight (6.3%) of test subjects had thrombocytopaenia, the mean platelet count was significantly lower than that of the control subjects (238 versus 278.6 x 10(9)/L, p = 0.001), and also varied significantly with the duration of ART (p = 0.0086).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings from this study revealed ART decreased platelet counts of HIV-infected individuals, but did not affect the PT and PTTK results.
authors: University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Department of Medical Laboratory Services, Gwagwalada, FCT Abuja, Nigeria. eedris888@yahoo.com.
authors: I A
authors: IA
authors: Nasir
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Owolagba
authors: A E
authors: AE
authors: Ahmad
authors: M M
authors: MM
authors: Barma
authors: P O
authors: PO
authors: Musa Po
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Bakare
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Ibrahim
authors: D O
authors: DO
authors: Amadu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D001780:Blood Coagulation Tests; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria; D010976:Platelet Count; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents