TITLE:
Sustained heavy ethanol drinking affects CD4+ cell counts in HIV-infected patients on stavudine (d4T), lamivudine (3TC) and nevirapine (NVP) treatment regimen during 9 months follow-up period
AUTHORS:
Godfrey S. Bbosa, David B. Kyegombe, William W. Anokbonggo, Apollo Mugisha, Jasper Ogwal-Okeng
KEYWORDS:
Sustained Heavy Ethanol Drinking; CD4+ Cell Counts; HIV-Infected Patients; d4T/3TC/NVP Drug Regimen
JOURNAL NAME:
Health,
Vol.6 No.5,
February
26,
2014
ABSTRACT: Sustained heavy ethanol drinking is a common problem
globally and ethanol is one of the most abused drugs among individuals of
different socio-economic status including the HIV-infected patients on antiretroviral drugs. Ethanol is reward drug and a CNS depressant especially at high doses. The study determined the
effect of sustained heavy ethanol drinking by HIV-infected patients on
d4T/3TC/NVP regimen on CD4+ cell counts in Uganda using WHO AUDIT tool and chronic alcohol-use biomarkers. A case control study using repeated measures design with serial measurements model was used. The patients on stavudine (d4T) 30 mg, lamivudine
(3TC) 150 mg and nevirapine (NVP) 200 mg and chronic alcohol use were recruited. A
total of 41 patients (20 in alcohol group and 21 in control group) were
screened for chronic alcohol use by WHO AUDIT tool and chronic alcohol use biomarkers. They were followed up for 9 months with blood sampling done at 3 months
intervals. CD4+ cell count was determined using Facscalibur Flow Cytometer system. Results were then sorted by alcohol-use biomarkers (GGT, MCV and AST/ ALT ratio). Data were
analysed using SAS 2003 version 9.1 statistical package with repeated measures fixed
model and the means were compared using student t-test. The mean CD4+ cell counts in all the groups were lower
than the reference ranges
at baseline and gradually increased at 3, 6 and 9 months of follow-up. The mean
CD4+ cell counts were higher in the control
group as compared to the chronic alcohol use group
in both WHO AUDIT tool group and chronic alcohol-use biomarkers group though
there was no significant difference (p > 0.05). Chronic alcohol use slightly
lowers CD4+ cell count in HIV-infected patients on d4T/3TC/NVP
treatment regimen.