Profile of blood cell abnormalities among antiretroviral therapy naïve HIV patients attending the Yaounde University Teaching Hospital, Cameroon

Abstract

BackgroundAbnormal hemograms are common manifestations and important predictive tools for morbidity in the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Few studies have been reported on the blood profile of HIV antiretroviral therapy (ART) naive subjects, therefore this study aimed to quantitatively and qualitatively describe the blood cell profile of HIV ART naive patients, and to describe the occurrence of the blood cytopenias by CD4 cell counts and WHO clinical stage.MethodsThis cross-sectional study of ART naive HIV patients was done at the Yaounde University Teaching Hospital (YUTH). For eligible participants, a structured questionnaire was filled and a clinical examination was done. Blood samples were collected for the measurement of full blood count and CD4 cell count. Blood films were made for the cytological examination of the blood samples and a reticulocyte count was done by the cresyl blue stain method.ResultsOf 81 cases reviewed, 66 (81.5%) had a blood cell disorder. The main qualitative blood disorders on the blood film were metamyelocytes (37.1%), toxic neutrophils (33.3%), stab neutrophils (29.6%), anisocytosis (35.6%) hypochromia (32.1%) and giant platelets (22.2%). Anaemia (62.9%) was the most common quantitative disorder of which 86.3% had low reticulocyte counts. Participants with low CD4 counts and advanced clinical stages had a greater occurrence of blood cytopenias (p-values <0.05).ConclusionIn the HIV infection, peripheral blood cell abnormalities affect all cell lineages, with anaemia being the most frequent single blood cell abnormality. Blood cytopenias mainly occur in advanced immunosuppression and clinical stages. Although all HIV patients may have blood cell disorders, those with advanced disease are more prone to develop them.

Magnitude and associated factors of cytopenias among antiretroviral therapy naïve Human Immunodeficiency Virus infected adults in Dessie, Northeast Ethiopia

“…Hence, chronic thrombocytopenia is relatively common hematologic complication of HIV disease. In the current study, prevalence of thrombocytopenia (18.7%) which is similar to studies in Nigeria [13] and Uganda [14]; was higher than reports from Northwest Ethiopia [2, 18, 28] and Uganda [21] but much lower than reports from Cameroon [29] and Turkey [30]. The variation in prevalence among different studies could be due to the difference in methodology as well as socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of the study population.…”

A cross-sectional study of leukopenia and thrombocytopenia among Chinese adults with newly diagnosed HIV/AIDS

“…Hematologic manifestations of HIV infection are common and more frequent with progression of disease. A similar study demonstrated that blood cytopenias mainly occur in HIV patients with advanced immunosuppression and clinical stages (10). Another study found an association between CD4 count and hemoglobin level, neutrophil count, and platelet count (7).…”

Thrombocytopenia according to Antiretroviral Drug Combinations, Viremia and CD4 Lymphocytes among HIV-Infected Patients in Cameroon A Snapshot from the City of Yaoundé

“…Within the frame of the clinical monitoring of PLHIV, haematological abnormalities are most often observed in addition to other complications [2]. These abnormalities are most often characterized by a decrease in peripheral blood cells.…”

“…These abnormalities are most often characterized by a decrease in peripheral blood cells. Specifically, a deficit in peripheral blood cells is likely to impair the clinical outcomes through anaemia, neutropenia and thrombocytopenia [2].…”