Serum Vitamin D Levels in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infected Patients Attending Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi

Gichuhi, Catherine Wanjiru (2015) Serum Vitamin D Levels in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infected Patients Attending Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi. Masters thesis, Jomo Kenyatta University.

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Abstract

Human Immune deficiency Virus (HIV) infected patients have many deficiencies and vitamin D could be one of them. This could be due to HIV disease-related factors, such as poor intake and absorption, impaired liver and kidney function, less sun exposure and interference of Antiretroviral (ARV) with vitamin D metabolism. This can have detrimental effects on health. In HIV patients, vitamin D is important for healthy cell function and immunity to illness. Evidence shows that vitamin D modulates the adaptive immune system through direct effects on T cell activation and functioning of Antigen presenting cells. This study determined the serum vitamin D levels in 118 HIV infected patients on Antiretroviral therapy and those not on Antiretroviral therapy visiting the Aga Khan University Hospital. The association of vitamin D level, CD4 cell count and HIV viral load were evaluated. Liver enzymes and bilirubin were determined to evaluate liver function. The total viral load in blood samples was determined using COBAS Ampliprep/TaqMan HIV-1 test kit. The CD4 cells count was done using fluorescence- activated cell sorter system. Vitamin D in serum was determined using electrochemiluminescence binding assay in Cobas E601 mass analyzers. The percentage of patients with deficient levels (≤20ng/ml) of serum vitamin D was 39%. Vitamin D deficiency was proportionately higher in patients who were not on ART than in patients who were on ART. Abnormal levels of serum enzymes were observed to associate with deficient levels of vitamin D. sufficient levels of vitamin D was found to associate with high CD4 cell count and low viral load. These observations suggest a need to enhance ART with vitamin D supplements in order to ameliorate the detected deficiency as a strategy to improve HIV management

Item Type:	Thesis (Masters)
Subjects:	R Medicine > R Medicine (General)
Divisions:	Africana
Depositing User:	Mr Nahum Osman
Date Deposited:	05 Aug 2016 11:33
Last Modified:	05 Aug 2016 11:41
URI:	http://thesisbank.jhia.ac.ke/id/eprint/964

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