Aim: One third of HIV patients are co- infected with HCV. As HIV patients live longer this coinfection
and its complications such as liver cirrhosis, hepatic carcinoma, metabolic syndrome are
emerging as major manifestations of the disease that need to be dealt with promptly in order to
avoid a reduction of the positive effects of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on
HIV/AIDS introduced in 1996. Another system that could be affected by co-infection is the skeletal
system. It has been shown that HIV itself and in combination with HCV could lead to a reduction in
Original Research Article
Mabayoje et al.; BJMMR, 7(1): 72-81, 2015; Article no.BJMMR.2015.309
73
bone mineral density (BMD) predisposing to pathological fractures. It is thus important to determine
the state of calcium metabolism among our HIV/HCV patients in order to forestall negative impacts
on our patients who have been stable on HAART for several years. The majority of our patients are
on combination therapy of Zidovudine, Lamivudine and Nevirapine. The hepatic complications of
HIV/HCV co-infection have been well established. In our previous studies signs of hepatic
inflammation have been demonstrated by raised aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine
transaminase (ALT) levels. However in this study we wish to also demonstrate liver damage
through estimation of bilirubin levels.
Methodology: Antibodies to HIV were determines using Unigold and determine.
immunochromatographic device was used to detect anti-HCV. Total bilirubin and calcium were
analyzed using vitros DT-60 card reader.
Results: The majority of our patients were female. In group I up to ?. There was a statistically
significant elevation of total bilirubin levels in HIV/HCV co-infected patients when compared to HIV
mono-infected patients. There were statistically significant changes in calcium levels between the
groups
Conclusion: Information on HIV/HCV co-infection and its effects on calcium metabolism in this
clinical instance appears to be scarce. Intensification of research is required to firmly establish the
role of HIV/HCV co-infection on calcium metabolism in our clinical instance.