Effect of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on some specific clotting profile in Human Immunodeficiency Virus -(HIV) positive pregnant women

BACKGROUND: In many developing countries with a significant proportion of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients are women of child-bearing age and would require antiretroviral therapy. This study aimed at evaluating the effect of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on some specific clotting profile in HIV-positive pregnant women. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This study comprised 150 patients consisting of 50 blood samples from pregnant women on HAART as test subjects, 50 pregnant HIV-positive women that were not on HAART as test subjects, and 50 pregnant HIV-negative women which served as controls. The test subjects were attending the prevention of mother-to-child transmission Clinic at the Central Hospital, Benin City. Specific clotting factors assayed were factors 11, V, V11, V111, 1X, X, X1, and X11. All were done using ELISA methods. RESULTS: Factors 11 and V were reduced significantly in HIV-infected pregnant women on HAART and those not on HAART (P < 0.05) when compared with HIV-negative pregnant women. A significant increase in factors V11, V111, 1X, X, and X11 were observed in HIV-positive patients on HAART and those not on HAART when compared with HIV-negative pregnant women (P < 0.05). However, when HIV-positive patients on HAART were compared to HIV-positive women not on HAART, no statistical difference were observed (P > 0.005). CONCLUSION: There are changes in clotting profile of HIV-positive women on HAART and on those not on HAART and these changes are not due to the administration of antiretroviral therapy.