The Effect of cART on Platelet:Lymphocyte Ratio in HIV+ Patients Initiating cART

Beatrice Moore-Igwe1, Hannah E. Omunakwe2,3, Omosivie Maduka4,5

1
Medlical laboratory Science Dept. Rivers State University, 2 Haematology Department, Rivers State University, Pathology
Department, Rivers State University Teaching Hospital; 3Community Medicine Department University of Port Harcourt
Teaching Hospital, 4Community and Preventive Medicine Dept. University of Port Harcourt.

PURPOSE / OBJECTIVES RESULTS

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Anti- There was a statistically significant increase (p <0.001) in
Retroviral Therapy on Platelet Lymphocyte Ratio(PLR), the haematocrit by the 6 month on cART, the reduction in
th

assess if there was any significant relationship between Platelet: Lymphocyte count and of HIV VL by the 6 month
th

the HIV Viral Load and PLR and determine if the effect was also significant (P<0.001). Interestingly, PLR positively
correlated with the VL at baseline (0.3676), however, there
is sustained for up to 6 months into cART A novel
marker for inflammation - Platelet-Lymphocyte ratio
The findings from this study support a was a negative correlation at 3 months (-0125) and 6
(PLR) is known to correlate with inflammation, growing body of evidence that cART months (-0.028).

atherosclerosis and platelet activation.
MATERIALS & METHODS
METHOD
Consenting adults were recruited, 10mls of EDTA
samples were collected at entry into the study, after
3 months and 6 months on ART respectively for Full
Blood Count using a 3-part Sysmex XP300 and HIV
Viral Load with RT-PCR using Cobas TaqMan
version 1.5 (Roche Molecular Systems).
RESULTS
A total of 40 clients were recruited, with a mean
age of 36.20 years, 14(35%) of them were males.
Mean PCV, Platelet: Lymphocyte ratio and HIV
significantly reduces the viral load and
inflammation in HIV+ patients, however,
it also shows that there is no significant
reduction in the PLR after the initial
reduction, this is suggestive of a
persistent low-level inflammation which
may lead to chronic inflammatory state,
morbidity and mortality in this group of
patients.
SUMMARY/CONCLUSION
The PLR did not significantly reduce in the 3 and 6rd th

VL at Month 0 were 31.65±7.30%, 7.82±2.90 and month of evaluation after initiation OF cART, this
215767.85±360338.04cp/ml respectively. suggests persistent inflammation in this group oF
patients
.