ABSTRACT
Background: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) pandemic has become a major global
public health problem, the brunt of which is largely borne by communities in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Objectives: The aim ofthis review is to highlight and bring to the fore the peripheral blood and bone
marrow changes ofHIV and AIDS because many Hlv-infected persons may present with these changes
as more patients with this disease survive longer because oftherapy.
Methods: The review was sourced mainly by pubmed search using the search terms HN,AIDS,
Peripheral blood and Bone Marrow. Relevant journals and textbooks were also studied.
Results: The major peripheral blood changes of HIV infection and AIDS are anaemia,
thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, lymphocytopenia, monocytopenia or combination of any of these. In
the bone marrow,hypercellularity is seen in most of the patients despite peripheral cytopenias.
Mycobacterium Avium Complex and Mycobacterium tuberculosis are the most frequently identified
opportunistic infections in the bone marrow.
Conclusion: The peripheral blood and bone marrow are significantly affected in HN and AIDS. All
efforts should be geared by heaIthcare providers towards early detection and amelioration of the
various peripheral blood and bone marrow complications ofthe disease in order to optimize quality of
life and minimize morbidity and mortality among people living with HIV /AIDS (PLWHA).