Plasma Lipids and CD4 Count of Newly Diagnosed HIV Sero-Positive Patients at Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria

INTRODUCTION

The pathogenesis of HIV has been linked to the affectation of a number of CD4 positive T cells upon which the severity of the disease is graded. Patients who present with complications such as disorders of lipid metabolism may be missed if appropriate laboratory investigations are not done. Dyslipidemia is a common phenomenon in patients with HIV infection. Early consideration of this may prevent further associated complications.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the baseline parameters in plasma lipid profile in HIV positive patients and how they are affected by the severity of infection as measured by CD4 count.

METHODS

This is a retrospective study of which records of patients that attended Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) clinic of Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State Nigeria were looked into. All patients who attended our treatment sites for HIV/AIDS Counselling and Testing Program from June 2008 and October 2013 for the first time were reviewed. Records of four hundred and sixty-one (461) patients were found suitable and used for the study. Information about the age.

RESULTS

There are statistical significant differences among categories of patients in plasma Triglyceride (TG) mmol/L (p<0.001) and TC/HDL-Chol (p<0.001). The plasma TG (mmol/L) and TC/HDL-Chol are highest in patients with CD4 count <200 cells/µl. All compared categories in plasma TG (mmol/L) are statistically significant (p<0.001) except when CD4 count between 300 and 399 cells/µl and >400 cells/µl (p=1.000) categories were compared. Comparisons of TC/HDL-Chol in different study classifications show significant differences when CD4 count of <200 cells/µl category was compared with CD4 count of 300-399 cells/µl (p=0.021) and >400 cells/µl categories (p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

Plasma TG and TC/HDL-Chol were observed to have an association with severity of HIV infection as measured by a corresponding reduction in CD4 count.

Seroprevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen among patients attending Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano

BACKGROUND

Hepatitis B virus infection has become a global public health problem. In Nigeria, several studies from different parts of the country have confirmed the endemicity of the infection. This study seeks examine the seroprevalence of Hepatitis B viral infection among patients attending Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital in Kano metropolis.

METHOD

This is a retrospective study in which patients tested for hepatitis B virus using hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) as a marker were reviewed over 3 years. A total of 6,395 patients comprising of 4,040 males and 2,355 females including adults and children were tested for HBsAg from January 2004 to December 2006. Over this period, 1,509 sera were tested in 2004, 2,322 in 2005 and 2,564 in 2006.

RESULTS

Among the 6,395 patients, 703 (11.4%) comprising of 240 (10.2%) females and 490 (12.1%) males were positive for HBsAg. The highest prevalence was seen at the extremes of life in which 19.4% and 16.9% were seen among patients below 10 years and above 50 years respectively. The yearly trend of HBV surface antigenemia was 220 (14.6%) in 2004, 235 (10.1%) in 2005 and 275 (10.7%) in 2006.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that the prevalence of HBsAg among patients attending Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano is high and highest prevalence is seen at the extremes of life.

Seroprevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen among patients attending Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano

OBJECTIVE

To study the seroprevalence of Hepatitis B viral (HBV), infection among patients attending Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital in Kano metropolis.

PATIENTS AND METHOD

This is a retrospective study in which patients tested for hepatitis B virus using hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) as a marker were reviewed over 3 years. A total of 6,395 patients comprising of 4,040 males and 2,355 females including adults and children were tested for HBsAg from January 2004 to December 2006. Over this period, 1509 sera were tested in 2004, 2,322 in 2005 and 2,564 in 2006.

RESULTS

Among the 6,395 patients, 703 (11.4%) comprising of 240 (10.2%) females and 490 (12.1%) males were positive for HBsAg. The highest prevalence was seen at the extremes of life in which 19.4% and 16.9% were seen among patients below 10 years and above 50 years respectively. The yearly trend of HBV surface antigenemia was 220 (14.6%) in 2004, 235 (10.1%) in 2005 and 275 (10.7%) in 2006.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that the prevalence of HBsAg among patients attending Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano is high and highest prevalence is seen at the extremes of life.

Urinary tract infections in children with primary nephrotic syndrome and acute glomerulonephritis

BACKGROUND

The occurrence of urinary tract infection (UTI) in children with nephrotic syndrome (NS) has been widely reported by various workers, but not much has been documented about its occurrence among children with acute glomerulonephritis (AGN). Hence, the level of susceptibility to UTI by both diseases has not been compared.

OBJECTIVE

To determine and compare the prevalence of UTI in children newly diagnosed of AGN or NS.

METHODS

Urinary microscopy, culture and sensitivity of all children admitted with a diagnosis of NS and AGN between 1996-2004 were reviewed. Children with NS who had a relapse or were commenced on steroids, cytotoxic agents or antibiotics before admission were excluded from the study.

RESULTS

A total of 35 and 32 children diagnosed of AGN and NS respectively met the study criteria. Urinary tract infection occurred in three (9%) children with AGN and one (3%) of the children with NS. The organisms isolated among the AGN patients included Coliforms, Klebsiella, and Staphylococcus aureus while Coliform was isolated in the only NS patient with UTI.

CONCLUSION

There is a low prevalence of UTI in children newly diagnosed of AGN and NS.

Prevalence of rotavirus-induced diarrhea among children under 5 years in Ilorin, Nigeria

Diarrhoea disease is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in Nigerian children and rotavirus has been identified as an important causative agent among children below 5 years. We determined the prevalence of rotavirus-induced diarrhoea among under-5 s by electrophenotyping. Stool samples were collected from eligible subjects who presented with acute diarrhoea. The samples were processed for viral studies by electrophenotyping. Among the 299 subjects recruited, 55.9% were positive for rotavirus. Eighty percent of the recruited patients were below 24 months. There was a significant decrease (p-value = 0.00001) in the prevalence of rotavirus among diarrhoea patients above the age of 24 months when compared with those below this age group. Rotavirus was associated with higher morbidity and mortality. We conclude that rotavirus is the most important cause of diarrhoea among children <5 years in Ilorin, Nigeria and its prevalence is highest in the first 2 years of life. Adequate rehydration should be regarded as the mainstay of management.

Endometrial tuberculosis in the Nigerian middle belt: an eight-year review

Endometrial tuberculosis (TB) is a known cause of infertility in women which, because of the global increase in the spread of TB, should always be considered when investigating the cause of infertility. We undertook this review in order to determine its incidence among infertile women in the Nigerian middle belt. This is a retrospective study of all histopathological slides of infertile women seen at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria, between 1997 and 2004 who were evaluated for infertility by endometrial biopsy. The slides were reviewed and, where necessary, new sections were cut from tissue blocks and stained with haematoxylin and eosin. Ziehl-Neelsen stain used to demonstrate acid-fast bacilli. Clinical reports were extracted from histopathological request form. A total of 661 patients were included in the study. Primary infertility constituted 30%, secondary 69% and unspecified cases 1%. TB endometritis was seen in 0.45%. Endometrial TB is not a frequent cause of infertility in our set-up. However, with the worldwide resurgence of TB, its possible presence should always be taken into consideration.