MONITORING OF CD4 IN HIV PATIENTS PRE AND POST TREATMENT WITH ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY (ART)

Mohammed Amood AL-Kamarany*, Ahmed Mahyoub, Entibah AL-Hamadi, Husain Faqirah, Tarik Abdulkarim

ABSTRACT

Background: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection leads to a progressive reduction in the number of T cells expressing CD4. World Health Organization (WHO) recommends antiretroviral therapy (ART) for all people with HIV. Also WHO recommends to monitor the CD4 as indication of treatment failure and the need to switch from first-line to second-line drugs. Objectives: Therefore, the study aims to monitor the efficacy of ART in HIV patients hospitalizations based on CD4 count using protocol of National AIDS and HIV Control Program that is derived from World Health Organization (WHO) guideline. Methods: Based on a cross sectional study, 15 subjects were collected from adults of 27–52 years of age, suffering from diarrhea, recurrent oral ulceration, fungal infection, lymphadenopathy, herpes zoster and fever attended at the center of tropical medicine and infectious diseases (CTMID) of Authority of Public AL- Thawra Hospital in Hodeidah, Yemen. HIV was diagnosed clinically and laboratory namely HIV antigen test, then CD4 count was assayed pre – treatment. The treatment course consists of triple ART namely Tenofovir /Efavirenz / Emtricitabine. The efficacy of ART was monitored based on CD4 count post six months. Results: 15 patients were enrolled in unit of HIV treatment and monitored pre and post treatment. The average of CD4 count pre - treatment was 216 ± 129 cell/μL and increased post – treatment about 404 ± 236 cell/μL. The patients improved , that was significantly statistically different (p < 0.05) between pre and post – treatment . Conclusion: The finding data showed that the ART improved the immunity and the quality of life for HIV patients.

Keywords: ART, HIV, Monitoring, CD4, Efficacy, Therapeutic, Yemen.