Evaluation of Thyroid Function of HIV Patients in Umunze, Anambra State, Nigeria

Background: Abnormal thyroid function tests have been detected at various phases in people living with Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the effect of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) not well understood. However, there is insufficient study among Nigerians living with HIV.

Objective: This study is aimed to determine thyroid hormones in HIV positive individuals compared with HIV negative individuals in Umunze, Anambra State, Nigeria.

Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out over a period of six months among 95 HIV positive and 30 HIV negative individuals attending USAID/FHI clinic of Immaculate Heart Hospital in Umunze, Nigeria. The subjects were divided into three groups on the basis of HAART (those on HAART [48] – GROUP 1, HAART naïve [47] – GROUP 2 and Control [30] – GROUP 3). The subjects were interviewed, examined and blood sample collected for determination of thyroid function parameters which include thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free triiodothyronine (fT3), triiodothyronine (T3), free thyroxine (fT4), and thyroxine (T4).

Results: Among the 125 subjects recruited for the study 67.2% were females and 32.8% males. The mean levels of TSH and fT3 was found to be higher in group 1 subjects than in group 2 and the group 3 subjects. The mean level of T4 was significantly higher in group 2 subjects than group 1 and the group 3 subjects. The level of T3 was significantly lower in control subjects in comparison to both HAART and non-HAART subjects. Primary hypothyroidism is the commonest pattern of thyroid dysfunction among the HIV positive patients followed by isolated low fT4.

Conclusion: Serum levels of thyroid hormones as shown in this study may be used as baseline periodic markers during antiretroviral therapy while people living with HIV may benefit from supplementation if appropriate. There is also need for a larger study to identify the risk factors for progression to overt thyroid disease in HIV infected subjects with thyroid autoimmunity.