Heavy metals, viral load and some haematological parameters of HIV-infected subjects in Niger Delta, Nigeria.

Haematological abnormalities are the commonest complication of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection and become worsened as the disease progresses. This study evaluated the concentration of heavy metals (HM), viral load and some haematological parameters among HIV-population in Nigeria using two sets of controls: non-disease (HIV-negative subjects) and non-exposure (HIV-positive and negative subjects from South-West, Nigeria). This comparative cross-sectional study comprises of 185 consented participants chosen using simple random sampling: 104 HIV-positive and 81 HIV-negative volunteers 18 years and above from Niger Delta and non-Niger Delta areas. Heavy Metals were analysed from the blood samples of participants using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS). An analysis of nine haematological variables was performed on PLWHIV and HIV-negative individuals. Compared to HIV-negative individuals, those who were infected with the virus had higher levels of Pb, Cd, and essential metals. The correlation analysis demonstrated several significant associations between viral load and selected haematological parameters (platelet and red blood cell counts) in non-Niger Delta region. The presence of these variables in a disease surrogate can be used to improve prognosis.