STUDY OF SERUM PROTEIN, ALBUMIN, GLOBULIN AND ALBUMIN/GLOBULIN RATIO IN RELATION WITH HIV PATIENTS

BACKGROUND Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection (HIV) is gradually becoming a threat to our society. It affects our immune system. Proteins are important components of immune system. Notably albumin and globulin are chief components, which have important impact not only on our nutrition but also on immunity. Study of serum protein and serum albumin and globulin ratio denotes nutritional status of human beings. Their evaluation gives diagnostic and prognostic information, especially in relation to CD4 count. The aim of this study is to assess the protein status of HIV positive patients, thereby their nutritional status and prognostic correlation with CD4 count. MATERIALS AND METHODS It was a descriptive analytical study done over 60 patients who were HIV positive attending indoor and outdoor of Department of Chest Medicine in a Tertiary Medical College in Kolkata, West Bengal, during the period of 2014 - 16. Patients with comorbidities like diabetes mellitus and renal diseases were excluded from our study. Serum total protein, albumin, globulin and albumin/globulin ratio were estimated and inserted in Microsoft Excel and thus calculation was performed. RESULTS HIV infection whether asymptomatic or symptomatic alters plasma level of total protein, albumin, globulin and albumin: globulin ratio. Serum protein was high, average albumin level decreased, average globulin level increased and A: G ratio reversed. In low CD4 count Albumin: Globulin ratio alteration is more evident as compared to high CD4 group. Association between CD4 counts and albumin/globulin ratio was calculated using Chi-square statistic. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. CONCLUSION Serum protein increases with HIV progression and therefore can be used as a biomarker in the assessment of the progress of infection and has prognostic importance in relation with CD4 count.