Pattern of Lipid Profile Levels in HIV Serodiscordant Couples in Jos Plataeu State, Nigeria

This was a cross sectional study designed to determine the pattern of lipid profile levels in HIV serodiscordant couples in Jos, Nigeria. A total of 20 discordant HIV couples (40 patients) and 20 controls (40 non HIV couples) aged between 18 and 49 years were included in the study. 5ml of fasting venous blood sample was collected from each participant into plain containers for the evaluation of lipid profile. Total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were assayed using standard methods. The results showed that HIV discordant test group had significantly higher mean serum TG, VLDL-C, and LDL-C levels whereas HDL-C values were significantly lower than in the control (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in TC levels in groups when compared to the control (p>0.05). The male HIV discordant test group had higher TG and VLDL-C values (p=0.001; 0.002) and lower HDL-C (p=0.000) than in the male control group (p=0.001) while the female HIV discordant test group had significantly higher LDL-C and lower HDL-C levels (p=0.001; 0.000) than in female control group. Male HIV-exposed seronegative partners had significantly higher TG and VLDL-C with lower HDL-C levels (p<0.05) compared to male control while female exposed seronegatives had significantly lower HDL-C level (p=0.000) than in the female control. Furthermore, female HIV positives had significantly higher LDL-C and lower HDL-C levels than in the female control (p<0.05). This study revealed significant alterations in lipid profile levels in the HIV serodiscordant couples which warrant further studies.