European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

STUDY OF SERUM IRON PROFILE IN PEOPLE LIVING WITH HUMAN IMMUNE- DEFICIENCY VIRUS (HIV) WITH ANEMIA: A DESCRIPTIVE CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Roshan Chhetri*, Vivek Kattel, Manish Subedi, Bhupendra Shah and Purbesh Adhikari

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Anemia is considered as one of the commonest hematological manifestation in HIV infection. It is important because it indices disease severity, progression of disease and quality of life. Among various etiologies iron deficiency, anemia of chronic disease and drug induced anemia are common etiologies. This study will help to identify the patterns of iron profile in patients with HIV infection with anemia. Methods: One hundred and ten participants were enrolled in this descriptive cross sectional study who were diagnosed as a case of confirmed Human-Immune deficiency Virus infection with anemia, from June 2018 to July 2020. All the detail data of serum iron profile (serum iron, Total Iron Binding Capacity, serum ferritin), complete blood count, peripheral smear, CD4( cluster of differentiation 4) count, viral load, duration and treatment regime of antiretroviral treatment and staging were recorded after taking ethical clearance from the institute. Statistical analysis was done using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. Results: We observed 53.6% female with median age of 41.2 years with mean duration of anti-retroviral therapy for 5.3 years. 71% of study participants had mild anemia. Among all participants, 69% had normal range serum iron level, 54% had normal range TIBC and 61% had normal range serum ferritin level as the commonest iron profile manifestation. 90% of the participants had undetectable viral load and 81% had CD4 count more than 500 copies/ml. Conclusion: Despite undetectable viral load and higher CD4 count in majority of participants with antiretroviral therapy, young age people living with HIV infection had predominantly mild anemia but with normal serum iron level, TIBC and serum ferritin as the commonest finding of iron profile.

Keywords: Anemia; iron profile; Human Immune-deficiency Virus.