Abstract
Alterations in liver and renal functions are among the complications of HIV infection, and highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has been implicated. The combined nephrotoxic and hepatotoxic effects of HAART were determined by assessing the renal and liver functions of HIV sero-positive subjects on HAART in a tertiary hospital. Liver enzymes activities; Aspartate and alanine aminotransferases (AST & ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma‐glutamyl transferase (GGT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and renal function parameters; uric acid and creatinine clearance were determined in sera of 90 consenting subjects comprising of 30 HIV seropositive subjects on HAART, 30 HAART naive and 30 apparently healthy HIV sero-negative controls using colorimetric methods. CD4 + T cell count was done by flow cytometry while estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was determined by calculation. Anthropometric data and socio demographic information were obtained. Data was analyzed using ANOVA, LSD post hoc and Pearson’s correlation at p<0.05. The body mass index and CD4 + T cell count were significantly higher and AST, ALT, LDH and uric acid levels lower in HIV sero-negative controls compared to HIV on HAART and HAART naïve subjects. HIV on HAART had higher AST, ALT, GGT and LDH activities compared to HAART naïve. A significant negative correlation (r = -0.881, p = .000) was observed between uric acid and CD4 + T cell count in HAART naïve subjects only. HIV infection and HAART is associated with low grade hepatotoxicity but no impairment of renal functions in the population studied.
Key words: HIV, HAART, liver enzymes, renal function