Abstract

Chronic alcohol consumption affects serum enzymes levels in the HIV/AIDS patients on d4T/3TC/NVP treatment regimen during the 9 month follow up period

Author(s): Godfrey S.Bbosa, David B.Kyegombe, William W.Anokbonggo,Apollo Mugisha, Jasper Ogwal-Okeng

Chronic alcohol use is a common problem globally including HIV/AIDS patients on ARV treatment regimens leading to severe liver damage and increase in serumenzymes. The study determined effect of chronic alcohol intake on serumenzymes inHIV/AIDS patients on d4T/3TC/NVP treatment regimen inUganda using theWHOAUDIT tool and alcohol-use biomarkers. A case control study using repeated measures with serial measurements model was used.Alcohol-Use biomarkers were used to standardize gender differences in alcohol use.Atotal of 41 patients were screened for chronic alcohol use by theWHOAUDIT tool. The 21 patients were enrolled in the control group that were not chronic alcohol users and the other 20 patients in the chronic alcohol use according to the WHO AUDIT tool scores. Since the tool was not sensitive enough the patients in the control group were again sorted out using the chronic alcohol use biomarkers. Two studies withWHOAUDIT tool group and chronic alcohol use biomarkers were done. Alcohol-Use biomarkers were used to standardize the gender differences in alcohol use.Atotal of 41 patients (21 alcohol group and 20 control group) were followed up for 9 months with whole blood sampling done at 3 month intervals. The serum enzymes were determined using the Cobas Intergra 400 Plus analyzer machine. The mean GGT levels were higher in chronic alcohol use group as compared to control group though in both groups, the levels were above reference ranges during 6 month and three times higher during 9 month follow-up period for both chronic alcohol-use self reporting and biomarkers groups. Generally, the mean AST,ALT andAST/ALT levels were slightly higher in alcohol-use group as compared to control group and were slightly higher in both groups as compared to reference ranges during the 9month follow-up period. Chronic alcohol consumption byHIV/AIDS patients on d4T/3TC/NVP drug regimen increased GGT and AST/ALT serum levels and hence used as chronic alcohol –use biomarkers.