STUDY OF CD4 COUNT IN PRE-ART PERIOD AND DURING ART PERIOD IN SEROPOSITIVE HIV ADULT PATIENTS TO SEE THE EFFECT OF HAART

BACKGROUND Cases of HIV are increasing all over the world. India is the third largest in terms of HIV epidemic. This disease has put economic burden over the country. Hence we conducted this study to compare CD4 Count before starting ART and during ART period in seropositive HIV adult patients. Aims and Objectives-To study CD4 Count in pre-ART period and during ART period in seropositive HIV adult patients after 2 weeks, 4 months, 8 months, 16 months and 20 months of starting ART. MATERIALS AND METHODS This is a hospital based (observational) cohort study carried out between Dec 2015 to July 2017 among 100 adult HIV positive patients registered at ART-Plus centre, GSVM Medical College, Kanpur. RESULTS Among a total of 100 cases, 70% were males of which majority belonged to younger age group of 20-40 (72%) followed by 40-60 years (17%). HIV infection is more common in married individuals (73%) and in cases belonging to Hindu religion (61%) followed by Muslims (36%). Infection was more common in low socio-economic status. During the period of study, significant rise in CD4 count was noted during the ART period as compared to pre-ART period among study groups of all ages. CONCLUSION The use of ART in adult population of HIV showed a significant rise in CD4 counts both as an immediate (2 wks.) and long-term effect (20 months) as compared to pre-ART period of study and the rise in CD4 counts was progressive over the time period of this study. It was also concluded that there was more significant rise in CD4 count during 2 weeks to 4 months of ART in the younger age group of 18-20 years and 20-40 years. Since HIV is a global disease, with India being the third largest center for HIV epidemic in the word, ART should be started early in the HIV sero-positive patients irrespective of the CD4 count and staging. As it is more prevalent in younger reproductive age groups, these age groups should be better taken care off and educated regarding HIV and methods of its prevention.