Changes in Serum Level of ALT, GGT and LDH in Human Immunodeficiency Mono-infected and HIV-HBV Co-Infected Patients

Abstract

Liver markers indicate liver disorders that could be caused by drugs and infection such as hepatotropic viruses or its co-infection with HIV. Standard antiretroviral therapy (ART) consists of the combination of at least three antiretroviral (ARV) drugs to maximally suppress the HIV virus and stop the progression of HIV disease. This study was designed to determine the effect of antiretroviral therapy in co-infection of HIV with hepatitis B virus on serum ALT, GGT and LDH. Seventy six patients aged 16-65years including 50 HIV mono-infected and 26 HIV-HBV patients that have not initiated antiretroviral therapy were recruited from Federal Medical Centre, Owo-Nigeria. Viral serological study of the patients were carried out by ELIZA and Immunoblotting. LDH, GGT and ALT were determined biochemically by Spectrophotometry. The results obtained showed a significantly higher mean values of LDH, GGT and ALT in the HIV-mono-infected after drug administration (334.4 ± 11.2, 24.9 ± 2.3, and 42.4 ± 1.1) than the results (296.5 ± 7.4; 14.8 ± 1.4 and 27.8 ± 1.7) of the parameters obtained before the initiation of the drug with p <0.05. There was a significantly higher mean values of LDH and ALT in the HIV patients co-infected with HBV before drug administration 440.3 ± 8.2 and 52.3 ± 0.5 ) than the results (288.3 ± 5.7 and 36.6 ± 0.6) of the parameters  obtained after the initiation of the drug with p<0.05. However, there was a significantly lower mean value of GGT in the HIV-HBV patients before drug administration than after the initiation of the antiretroviral drug (p<0.05). This work revealed a significant increase in the values of LDH, GGT and ALT in the HIV-mono-infected patients after antiretroviral drug administration and in HIV-HBV patients before antiretroviral therapy. A significantly lower mean value of GGT in the HIV-HBV patients before drug administration than after the initiation of the antiretroviral drug. Evaluation of liver biomarkers in the treatment of HIV mono-infected and HIV-HBV patients is essential to avoid liver disorder and possible complications.

Keywords: ALT, γGT,LDH, HIV, Coinfectio, HIV-HBV, Monoinfection