Doreen Nehumba
University of Stellenbosch, South Africa
Title: Changes in lipid profiles of HIV+ adults over 9 months at a Harare HIV clinic: A longitudinal study
Biography
Biography: Doreen Nehumba
Abstract
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, together with antiretroviral drugs, is often associated with changes in biochemical and metabolic parameters including changes in lipid profiles. The aim of the study was to compare the changes in lipid profiles among HIV positive outpatients who are on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and those who are ART-naïve over a nine months period. 171 patients were investigated, 79% were ART-experienced, while 82% of those on treatment were on NVP/EFV first line ART. More than 60% of ART-naïve and ART-experienced patients had some form of dyslipidemia either at baseline or at follow-up, but the lipid median values for the two groups were within normal limits. At baseline, median levels of total cholesterol (TC) and high density lipoprotein (HDL) were slightly higher in the ART-experienced group. After nine months of antiretroviral treatment the average lipid values were still within normal limits. Interestingly, there was higher increase in HDL over time in the ART negative group compared to the ART positive group. There was a decrease in TC/HDL ratio in both groups over time. HIV positive patients frequently show various forms of dyslipidemia, but there are no changes in average atherogenic lipid levels after nine months.