Serum Creatinine, Urea and Their CD4+ T-lymphocyte Count among HIV Positive Patients before and after Initiation of HAART at St. Paul’s General Specialized Hospital In Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Objective: To describe the serum level of urea and creatinine, and as well as CD4+ T cell count of blood among HIV positive patients before and after initiation of HAART in St. Paulo’s general specialized hospital.

Methods: A retrospective follow up study was conducted among HIV infected individuals who take HAART drug combination regimens such as (TDF/3TC/EFV), (TDF/3TC/NVP), (AZT/3TC/NVP), (D4T/3TC/EFV) and (D4T/3TC/NVP) and visit St. Paulo’s generalized hospital laboratory for renal function testing from 2007-2009G.C.

Results: A total of 2026 HIV positive patients started HAART between 2007-2009G.C in St. Paulo’s ART clinic. Among them 380 HIV patients, with two and three visits for CD4+ and renal function test (creatinine & urea), were recruited to the study. Of whom 240 (63.2%) were female and 140(36.8%) male. Out of 380 patients, 104(27.4%) were taking 1b30, 94(24.7%) were using 1a30, 77(20.3%) were taking 1d, 57(15%) 1c, 14(3.7%) tdf/3tc/efv, 12(3.2%) use tdf/3tc/nvp and 22(5.7%) were taking other drug types. The statuses of CD4+ T cell count of patients become improved as they are using HAART drug through visit. These were 115, 266 and 298 out of 380 have greater than 200 CD4+ T cell count on 6th, 12th, 18th months time difference respectively. But the numbers of patients who have renal dysfunction were increased as they were using HAART drug as treatment through visits. These might indicate that, use of HAART drug combination may improve the immune status HIV positive patients even though some renal side effects are there. Therefore, patients (HAART drug user) should have a follow up on renal function to monitor side effects of drug.

Conclusion: HAART resulted in improved Immune status of HIV patients with remarkable increase in CD4 T lymphocyte count but at the same time there was an increase in Azotemia after the introduction part of HAART which suggests the impact of drug in renal function. This is especially true for TDF containing drug regimens (TDF/3TC/NVP) which dramatically improve CD4 T lymphocyte count and show significant Azotemia over times.