Title:Correlation of selected inflammatory markers with cardiovascular diseases markers among HIV patients in Benin City, Nigeria. 

Author:Godwin A. Aikpitanyi-Iduitua, Nosakhare L. Idemudia, Rosemary O. Aikpitanyi-Iduitua and Richard Omoregie

Abstract:Objectives: Dyslipidaemia has been reported in HIV infections which often results in cardiovascular disease (CVD). Given that HIV is associated with inflammation with resultant adverse clinical outcomes, this study seeks to assess the correlation between selected markers of inflammation and markers of cardiovascular diseases among HIV patients in Benin City, Nigeria.
Methods: Selected inflammatory markers (such as Albumin, CD4, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and systemic immune-inflammatory index (SII)) and markers of CVD (such as atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), Castelli's risk index(CRI), triglyceride-high density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (TG/HDL-c) and triglyceride glucose index (TyG index)) were evaluated in 173 participants comprising 81 HIV patients on Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART), 45 HAART-naïve HIV patients and 48 non-HIV individuals (Controls) attending out-patients clinics in the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City. Using blood samples obtained from each of the participants, albumin, CD4 count, Full blood count (FBC) and lipid profile test were determined using standard methods from where other markers were calculated.
Results: CD4 count and albumin were lower in HAART-naïve HIV patients than in both those on HAART and non-HIV (P<0.001) whereas PLR were higher. AIP and TG/HDL-c were significantly higher in HAART-naïve HIV patients than in those on-HAART and non-HIV subjects. In HAART-naïve patients, albumin with AIP, TyG index and TG/HDL-c, and CD4 with CRI and TG/HDL-c correlated negatively. This was the same for albumin with TyG index amongst HIV patients on HAART. In non-HIV patients, CRI had a significant positive correlation with NLR, PLR and SII, while CD4 with TG/HDL-c, AIP and TyG index was the reverse relationship. Using AIP and TG/HDL-c cut-off values, HAART naïve HIV patients had a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease than non-HIV patients, followed by HIV patients on HAART.
Conclusion: This study showed that HIV is linked to lipid abnormalities as a result of chronic inflammation. Therefore, HIV patients should be monitored for inflammation and CVD.
Keywords: Albumin, Antiretroviral therapy, cardiovascular disease, HIV, inflammation
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