Comparative assessment of serum lipid profile, complete blood count and viral load levels between HIV positive patients taking dolutegravir and efavirenz based antiretroviral therapy at wolkite health center, southern Ethiopia
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Date
2021-08
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Addis Abeba University
Abstract
Background: Highly active antiretroviral therapy can achieve rapid HIV suppression and allows
restoration of the immune system. However, their long-term use has been associated with various
immunological, biochemical and haematological abnormalities such as dyslipidemia, insulin
resistance, lactic acidosis, anemia, leukocytopenia, neutropenia and thrombocytopenia
Objective: The main aim of this study was to compare lipid profile, complete blood count, and
viral load levels between HIV positive patients taking dolutegravir and efavirenz based ART at
Wolkite Health Center, Southern Ethiopia.
Methods: Institution based comparative cross-sectional study was employed to include 75
efavirenz and 75 dolutegravir based ART treated patients, during their routine appointment using
consecutive probabilistic sampling technique from May 2020 to July 2021 at Wolkite Health
Center, Southern Ethiopia.
Results: This study revealed patients on efavirenz based showed statistically significant (p =
0.030) decrease in HDL-C concentration as compared to dolutegravir based antiretroviral therapy
users. The mean values of neutrophil was statistically significantly lower (p= 0.009) among
dolutegravir based ART users. Moreover, the mean values of platelet count was statistically
significantly higher (p = 0.033) in the efavirenz than the dolutegravir based antiretroviral groups.
Viral load suppression rate among dolutegravir and efavirenz based antiretroviral therapy users
were 94.6% and 86.7% respectively.
Conclusion: Compared with efavirenz, dolutegravir based ART showed a better lipid profile and
significant improvements in erythroid and lymphoid cell lines with lower prevalence of anaemia.
Whereas, efavirenz significantly improved ameliorated platelet indices compared with
dolutegravir based ART. Both of treatment regimens showed comparable efficacy in viral load
suppression.
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Keywords
Dolutegravir, efavirenz, lipid, complete blood count, viral load