A STUDY OF D-DIMER AND P-SELECTIN AS BIOMARKERS OF THROMBOEMBOLISM IN TREATMENT NAÏVE HIV PATIENTS IN AMINU KANO TEACHING HOSPITAL

Abstract

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a significant health concern because of its high morbidity and
mortality. High rates of recurrence are a common feature. HIV infection has been recognized as a
prothrombotic condition as proven by many studies. Knowing biomarkers that enable early
identification of patients at high or low risk of primary and recurrent VTE would be useful.
Various established and novel biomarkers associated with VTE have been investigated with regard to
their potential for predicting primary or recurrent VTE, for facilitating the diagnosis and for
optimizing the clinical management of VTE.
In this research D-dimer and P-selectin were studied in HIV-infected patients attending Aminu Kano
Teaching Hospital and their usefulness in overall care of HIV-infected patients evaluated.
Research Aim:
To assess the risk of VTE in pre-HARRT HIV infected patients using D-dimer and P-selectin as
biomarkers.
Research objectives:
1. To determine D-dimer and P-selectin levels in the study subjects and controls.
2. To determine the CD4 counts in the study subjects.
3. To relate the biomarker levels with the CD4 counts in the study subjects.
4. To determine and compare the epidemiological and haematological profiles of the study and
controls and relate the findings to the biomarker levels and CD4 counts.
Study design;
A cross sectional study conducted on HIV positive treatment naïve patients attending attending
Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital.

Materials and methods
One hundred and eighty (180) subjects were recruited in the study. Out of this ninety (90) were HIV
positive patients who have not been commenced on antiretroviral drugs serving as the study group.
Remaining ninety were HIV-negative normal blood donors selected from the blood donor clinic to
form the control group.
Full blood count (FBC) was carried out on EDTA anticoagulated samples using Sysmex KX21N
haematology analyser, D-dimer tests were carried out using a commercial ELISA assay kit
manufactured by Cloud-Clone Corp. P-selectin were carried out using a commercial ELISA assay kit
for Human P-selectin produced by Elabscience Biotechnology company . In addition CD4 count was
carried out on the study group, using Cyflow S 73 partec machine.
Results The mean plasma P-selectin level in the study group was higher than that in the control group. ( 22.64 ± 6.04ng/ml and 18.73 ± 5.48ng/ml, respectively ). There was no difference in the D-dimer level between the two groups. There was also significant difference in the mean Hb and PCV between the two groups. Conclusion
Findings from this study showed that P-selectin could be a useful biomarker in screening for potential
venous thrombo-embolic process in HIV-infected individuals attending our health facilities.

A STUDY OF D-DIMER AND P-SELECTIN AS BIOMARKERS OF THROMBOEMBOLISM IN TREATMENT NAÏVE HIV PATIENTS IN AMINU KANO TEACHING HOSPITAL