EFFECT OF HAART ON OXIDATIVE DNA DAMAGE IN HIV PATIENTS AT UITH IN ILORIN.

Introduction: Human immunodeficiency virus HIV causes a well-known global disease, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), which has a high disease burden in Africa. HIV infection is known to be associated with oxidative stress, which may contribute to disease severity. However, the effect of HAART is equivocal, and requires more studies. 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), a useful biomarker to assess oxidative DNA damage in biological fluids, was therefore measured in this study.

Objectives: The study measured 8-OHdG in HIV seronegative and seropositive participants and correlated it with the duration of HAART.

Research question: Does HIV infection have an effect on oxidative DNA damage? Does HAART have an effect on oxidative DNA damage? Does HAART duration have an effect on oxidative DNA damage?

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study consisting of 99 participants in 4 strata: 20 HIV seronegative, 25 HAART naïve, 26 on HAART <5 years, and 28 on HAART >5 years. Those on HAART were all on Tenofovir, Lamivudine, and Dolutegravir (TLD) combination. The questionnaires were administered, and blood samples were collected from all the participants. The serum 8-OHdG was measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in all the participants. The universal biosafety standards were strictly adhered to. The data were collected and analyzed with SPSS 2016 version.

Results/discussion: The serum levels of 8-OHdG of the participants were shown below. Our findings showed higher 8-OHdG in HIV patients than the Controls and is much higher in HAART naïve when compared with those on HAART (p = 0.005). The serum 8-OHdG and HAART duration were compared and showed a statistically significant negative correlation (r = - 0.331, p= 0.014).

Conclusion: This study found that HIV infection causes oxidative DNA damage which is more in patients who have not started HAART than those on HAART. This showed that the TLD-HAART regimen reduces HIV-associated oxidative stress over time, though not completely. This finding further supports a critical role of oxidative stress in HIV infection, a protective effect of HAART, and a potential role of antioxidants that requires further research.