Liver damage assessment in HIV-positive patients in antiretroviral therapy in the municipality of Carazinho/RS

Abstract

This study aims to verify and analyze the occurrence of liver damage in HIV-patients under antiretroviral therapy, scrutinizing which treatment regimens have higher degree of toxicity. Nine patients who were already under antiretroviral therapy were selected, considering as inclusion criteria to be over 18 years old and be under treatment for more than six months. Exclusion criteria were unwillingness to participate in the study, people who were under treatment with antituberculosis drugs and HCV-positive persons. For data assessment, it was conducted a questionnaire covering demographic and behavioral females issues; furthermore to the accomplishment of a laboratory profile, which include the aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALDT) levels. Among the results, it was found that prevailed first in females with 66.6% and mean age of 38.7 years; followed by 44.5% that reported heterosexual intercourse as mode of infection. Evaluating the therapy extent, 44.4% reported that were using it for 5 to 8 years, 55.5% were using a triple therapy, among this therapy evaluation, 66.6% reported to have side effects. The laboratorial analysis showed values within the benchmark ranges. Thus, by analyzing the results were possible to understand the effectiveness of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), the treatment regimens with the most effective antiretroviral and less liver damage, which showed no increase in transaminases of the patients studied.