Hematological Profile Of Hiv/Aids Individuals With Opportunistic Respiratory Mycoses And Immune Status: A Cross Sectional Study In Uyo Nigeria

Hematological abnormalities are strong predictors of morbidity and mortality among HIV infection. This study was aimed to determine hematological indices, abnormalities and the immune status of HIV/AIDS subjects having opportunistic pulmonary mycoses in Uyo, Nigeria. A cross sectional study was adopted using 230 subjects with pulmonary symptoms attending the Anti-retroviral clinics in University of Uyo Teaching Hospital and Saint Luke’s Hosipital, Anua, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The hematological parameters and CD4 counts was determined using blood and sputum was used for mycological examinations. Data was analysed using statistical package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and was significant at p = 0.05. HIV subjects were more prevalent in female 98(68.89%) than male 56(31.11%). The most commonest fungi was Aspergillus niger (44.76%) and the least was Cryptococcus species (9.00%). The common hematological abnormality was anaemia with 86(86.9%), lymphopenia 33(33.3%) and thrombocytopenia 3(3.0%) among HIV/AIDS subjects with mycoses. The mean CD4 counts was 396.5±31.61 cells/µl (HIV) and 981.7±17.51 cells/µl (control individual). The CD4 counts below 200 cells/μl was observed in 19.4%(35) of AIDS patients. HIV/AIDS subjects with mycoses may develop hematological abnormalities such as anaemia, neutropenia and leucopenia due to low immune status.