Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy alters Serum Lipids and Hepatic Transaminases in HIV-Positive Adults: A Cross-Sectional Studym Enugu State University of Science and Technology Teaching Hospital, Nigeria
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Abstract
Globally, the advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has successfully transitioned HIV from a fatal diagnosis to a manageable chronic condition. However, long-term use of these drugs triggers metabolic and hepatic complications. This hospital-based cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the association of HAART with lipid profile alterations and hepatic transaminases among 50 HIV-positive adults undergoing first-line HAART regimen treatment (≥ 6 months) compared to 50 healthy HIV-negative controls at Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) Teaching Hospital, Nigeria. Fasting biochemical analysis revealed total cholesterol was significantly lower in patients on HAART compared to the control group (3.48 ± 0.92 mmol/L vs. 5.69 ± 0.43 mmol/L, p < 0.001), along with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C: 1.88 ± 0.82 mmol/L vs. 2.77 ± 1.07 mmol/L, p < 0.001) and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C: 0.47 ± 0.34 mmol/L vs. 0.65 ± 0.40 mmol/L, p = 0.023). Meanwhile, High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C: 1.15 ± 0.25 mmol/L vs. 1.25 ± 0.38 mmol/L, p = 0.125) and triglycerides (1.04 ± 0.75 mmol/L vs. 1.29 ± 0.66 mmol/L, p = 0.081) remained statistically similar between groups (p > 0.05). Serum transaminases displayed a conflicting pattern where Alanine transaminase (ALT) levels were significantly lower in the HAART cohort compared to the control group (14.44 ± 4.80 IU/L vs. 22.46 ± 9.43 IU/L, p < 0.001). Conversely, aspartate transaminase (AST) levels were significantly higher in patients on HAART than the controls (28.52 ± 4.60 IU/L vs. 24.76 ± 8.10 IU/L, p = 0.005). Long-term HAART regimen in HIV-positive adults is associated with distinct lipid and transaminase profiles, underscoring the necessity of routine dual-transaminase and lipid monitoring during chronic care management.
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