Assessment of Oxidative Stress Level in HIV/AIDS Patients on HAART Treatments

Background: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection is associated with the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and secondarily cellular damage of varied severity. Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) are currently the therapy of optimal considerations for HIV-infected patients.

Aims: The present study was designed to assess the oxidative stress levels in people living with HIV/AIDS on HAART.

Methods: A total of one hundred and twenty (120) patients attending the Jos University Teaching Hospital APIN Centre were recruited for the study following the inclusion criteria. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), reduced glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were evaluated in blood samples of recruited patients.

Results: Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities increased in control patients with no significant difference (p<0.05) compared with HAART. However, significant increases (p>0.05) were observed in reduced glutathione (GSH) concentration of control patients compared with HAART and HAART Naïve patients. More so, significant increase (p>0.05) was observed in malondialdehyde (MDA) of HAART Naïve patients compared with HAART treatment and control. No significant differences (p>0.05) was observed in alanine aminotransferase and creatinine in HAART, HAART Naïve compared with the control patients.

Conclusion: The study indicated that HIV/AIDS positive patients express reduced levels of SOD, and GSH with an increase level of MDA. This could further lead to oxidative stress complications and thus HAART-naïve patients are encouraged to used HAART to prevent further complication that could arise from oxidative stress.