• Richard Omoregie, Judith E Adeghe, Helen O Ogefere, Evelyn U Omokaro, and Chinedu C Ekeh.
• Department Of Medical Microbiology, School of Medical Laboratory Science, University of Benin Teaching Hospital P.M.B. 1111, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. richyomos@yahoo.com
• Afr Health Sci. 2008 Dec 1; 8 (4): 217219217-9.

ObjectiveHuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients, especially those on antiretrovirals are at risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The haemorheologic and fibrinolgtic activity of treatment naïve Nigerian HIV-infected patients were investigated.MethodsBlood was collected from 50 newly diagnosed treatment naïve HIV-infected patients and 50 apparently healthy HIV seronegative individuals that served as controls. Haematocrit values, plasma and serum viscosity, plasma fibrinogen concentration and euglobin lysis time were determined.ResultThe mean +/- standard deviation of haematocrit value of HIV infected patients (31.70 +/- 6.33%) was significantly lower (p<0.0001) than those of controls (39.50 +/- 2.43%). The plasma serum viscosity, plasma fibrinogen concentration and euglobin lysis time of HIV-infected patients were significantly higher compared with those of controls (p<0.0001).ConclusionTreatment naive Nigerian HIV-infected patients have a defective blood flow and fibrinolytic system, which may predispose them to CVD.

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