A decade of Anti-Retroviral Therapy in Nigeria: Efficacy of First Line Regimens in Treatment-Naive HIV/AIDS Patients

Authors

  • Ejiji Isa Department of Medicine, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Plateau State
  • Comfort Daniyam Department of Medicine, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Plateau State
  • Michael Iroezindu Department of Medicine, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Plateau State

Keywords:

HIV/AIDs, Antiretroviral drugs, Efficacy, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: The proportion of persons who become infected with resistant strains of HIV may be increasing. We assessed the efficacy of first line anti-retroviral (ARV) regimens since they were first introduced in Nigeria.

Methods: A descriptive prospective cohort study comparing baseline body mass index (BMI), CD+4 counts and viral load (VL) with those obtained at 6th month of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in 300 HIV infected treatment-naive patients. Data were analysed with Epi-Info version 3. 3 software and a probability value < 0.05 was considered significant.

Results: The mean BMI at baseline of 22.9±4.6 kg/m2 increased to 24.6±4.4 kg/m2 at 6th month of HAART. Therefore, the absolute increase in mean BMI was 1.7kg/m2 and was statistically significant p<0.05. The median CD4+ counts at baseline and at the end of the study shows counts of 127 cells/^l and 236 cells/^l respectively. This corresponds to a median increase of 109 cells/but was not statistically significant p=>0.05. When immunological response was measured as an increase from baseline of at least 50cells/^l, the proportion of patients with CD4+ count increase = 50cells/^l at the sixth month of HAART was 68%. The baseline median viral load was log10 4.90, log10(IQR 3.41-6.41) but became less than log10 2.60, log10(IQR 2.60-5.26) at 6th month of HAART. Hence, a median viral load reduction of at least log102.30 p<0.05 was achieved.

Conclusion: This study supports the belief that using limited ARV regimens can result in acceptable treatment outcomes many years after they were first introduced

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Published

2015-12-06

How to Cite

Isa, E., Daniyam, C., & Iroezindu, M. (2015). A decade of Anti-Retroviral Therapy in Nigeria: Efficacy of First Line Regimens in Treatment-Naive HIV/AIDS Patients. The Nigerian Health Journal, 11(3), 75. Retrieved from https://tnhjph.com/index.php/tnhj/article/view/60

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