Onyenekwe C.C., Ukibe N., Meludu S.C., Ifeanyi M., Ezeani M., Onochie A., Ofiaeli N., Aboh N., Ilika A.
Department of Chemical Pathology, College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria; Department of Human Biochemistry, College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria; Department of I
Onyenekwe, C.C., Department of Chemical Pathology, College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria, College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria; Ukibe, N., Department of Chemical Pathology, College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria; Meludu, S.C., Department of Human Biochemistry, College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria; Ifeanyi, M., Department of Immunology, College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria; Ezeani, M., Department of Immunology, College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria; Onochie, A., HIV Laboratory Unit, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria; Ofiaeli, N., VCT Unit, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria; Aboh, N., Department of Human Biochemistry, College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria; Ilika, A., Department of Community Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria
Background & objectives: The present study was designed to determine possible contributory impact of malaria infection on some biochemical markers in subjects with HIV co-infection in order to know if they are adverse or protective. Methods: Participants were recruited at the Voluntary Counseling and Testing Unit, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Nigeria and grouped into: (i) Malaria and HIV co-infection group (n = 45); and (ii) HIV infected group without concurrent malaria infection (n = 57). Standard laboratory methods were used for the HIV and Plasmodium falciparum antigen screening, malaria parasite density, CD4 + T-cell count, packed cell volume, white blood cell count, serum iron and albumin concentrations. Results: The results showed that serum iron and albumin were significantly reduced and raised respectively in 'Malaria-HIV co-infection group' compared with 'HIV infection group' (p <0.05 and p <0.05). A positive association was observed between age and serum iron concentration in malaria and HIV co-infected group (r = 0.580; p <0.05) while negative associations were observed between PCV and serum iron (r = -0.388; p <0.05) and between CD4 + T-cells and serum iron concentration (r = -0.362; p<0.05) in malaria and HIV co-infected group. The CD4 + T-cell count, WBC count, PCV were not significantly different between the Malaria-HIV co-infection group and HIV infection group. Interpretation & conclusion: In the present study serum iron and albumin concentrations were the most sensitive indicators that showed the contributory impact of malaria infection on biochemical index in HIV co-infected subjects. The findings suggest that at the defined stage of HIV infection in the present study, malaria co-infection may moderate the impact of HIV infection on iron metabolism and hepatic synthesis of albumin.