PROFILE OF HEMATOLOGICAL ABNORMALITIES AND ITS CORRELATION WITH ABSOLUTE CD4 COUNT AND HIV VIRAL LOAD IN HIV-INFECTED PATIENTS IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Abstract

Objectives: The objectives of the study are as follows: (1) To study the spectrum of hematological abnormalities in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected patients. (2) To find the correlation of hematological abnormalities with absolute CD4 count and HIV viral load. Methods: This remained a cross-sectional and observational study conducted in the Department of General Medicine of Kamineni Academy of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Hyderabad. The duration of the study was 18 months and it extended from January 2022 to June 2023. One hundred HIV-infected patients were included in this study on the basis of a predefined presence and exclusion criteria. CD4 count, complete blood count, CD4 count, and absolute neutrophil count were done in all cases. The spectrum of hematological abnormalities in HIV-infected patients and correlation of hematological abnormalities with absolute CD4 count and HIV viral load was analyzed. p<0.05 was taken as statistically important. Results: Among the 100 studied cases, there were 62 (62%) males and 38 (38%) females with a M: F ratio of 1:0.61. The mean age of male and female patients was found to be 45.85±10.12 and 46.74±9.86 years. The mean age of male and female patients remained found to be comparable. Incidence of anemia and neutropenia was found to be more in patients with absolute CD4 count <200 cells/μl or viral load of >1000 copies/ml as compared to other patients and the difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). Although individuals with low absolute CD4 count (<200 cells/μl) or high viral load (>1000 copies/ml) had higher prevalence of thrombocytopenia there was no statistically significant difference from other patients (p>0.05). Conclusion: Incidence of anemia and neutropenia significantly correlates with high HIV viral load and lower utter CD4 cell counts.