Search

Background: The influence of inflammation on iron status among people living with HIV (PLWHIV) has not been well explored. We evaluated the trajectory of iron status among PLWHIV during the first year of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), compared alternative approaches for inflammation correction, and assessed the associations of iron status with HIV‐1 viral load and anthropometric outcomes. Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis of data from a randomized trial among 400 adults initiating HAART in Tanzania. Ferritin and C‐reactive protein (CRP) were measured at baseline, 1, 6 or 12 months. Ferritin was considered in four ways: unadjusted, and adjusted for inflammation using higher cut‐off (HC), Thurnham‐corrected (TC) and regression‐corrected (RC) approaches. For unadjusted, TC and RC ferritin, iron deficiency (ID) was defined using ferritin < 15 μg/L and elevated iron status was defined using ferritin > 150 μg/L among females and > 200 μg/L among males. For HC ferritin, elevated iron status was defined based on serum ferritin > 500 μg/L, while ID was defined using ferritin < 70 μg/L in the presence of inflammation and < 15 μg/L in the absence of inflammation. Regression models evaluated the trajectory of ferritin concentration across categories of baseline characteristics, and assessed the association of iron status with viral and anthropometric outcomes. Results: The prevalence of iron deficiency at HAART initiation was 9% for unadjusted, 17% for HC, 12% for TC and 22% for RC ferritin. The prevalence of elevated iron status was 42% for unadjusted, 18% for HC, 31% for TC, and 15% for RC ferritin. The prevalence of iron deficiency for all three methods increased during the first year of HAART, while the prevalence of elevated iron status decreased. Baseline elevated iron status defined using HC ferritin was associated with a greater risk of HIV‐1 viral load > 1000 copies/mL [relative risk (RR) = 4.29, 95% CI: 1.38–13.3] and incidence of being underweight [body mass index (BMI) < 18.5 kg/m2, hazard ratio (HR) = 3.65, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.38–9.67]. Neither baseline‐elevated iron status defined using TC or RC ferritin nor baseline iron deficiency defined using any of the three methods was associated with HIV‐1 viral load or anthropometric outcomes. Conclusions: Whether and how inflammation correction is done influences findings of studies of iron status among PLWHIV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Tanzania is currently scaling-up access to anti-retro viral therapy (ART) to reach as many eligible persons as possible. Hepatitis viral co-infections are known to influence progression, management as well as outcome of HIV infection. However, information is scarce regarding the prevalence and predictors of viral hepatitis co-infection among HIV-infected individuals presenting at the HIV care and treatment clinics in the country. Methods A cross-sectional study conducted between April and September 2006 enrolled 260 HIV-1 infected, HAART naïve patients aged ≥18 years presenting at the HIV care and treatment clinic (CTC) of the Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH). The evaluation included clinical assessment and determination of CD4+ T-lymphocyte count, serum transaminases and serology for Hepatitis A, B and C markers by ELISA. Results The prevalence of anti HAV IgM, HBsAg, anti-HBc IgM and anti-HCV IgG antibodies were 3.1%, 17.3%, 2.3% and 18.1%, respectively. Dual co-infection with HBV and HCV occurred in 10 individuals (3.9%), while that of HAV and HBV was detected in two subjects (0.8%). None of the patients had all the three hepatitis viruses. Most patients (81.1%) with hepatitis co-infection neither had specific clinical features nor raised serum transaminases. History of blood transfusion and jaundice were independent predictors for HBsAg and anti-HBc IgM positivity, respectively. Conclusion There is high prevalence of markers for hepatitis B and C infections among HIV infected patients seeking care and treatment at MNH. Clinical features and a raise in serum alanine aminotransferase were of limited predictive values for the viral co-infections. Efforts to scale up HAART should also address co-infections with Hepatitis B and C viruses.

Background: HIV-infected adults initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART) in sub-Saharan Africa continue to experience high rates of morbidity and mortality during the initial months of treatment. Observational studies in high-income and resource-limited settings indicate that HIV-infected adults with low vitamin D levels may be at increased risk of mortality, HIV disease progression, and incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). As a result, vitamin D3 supplementation may improve survival and treatment outcomes for HIV-infected adults initiating ART.Methods/design: The Trial of Vitamins-4 (ToV4) is an individually randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) supplementation conducted among 4000 HIV-infected adults with low vitamin D levels [25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) <30 ng/mL] initiating ART in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The two primary aims of the trial are to determine the effect of a vitamin D3 supplementation regimen on incidence of (1) mortality and (2) pulmonary TB as compared to a matching placebo regimen. The primary safety outcome of the study is incident hypercalcemia. The investigational vitamin D3 regimen consists of oral supplements containing 50,000 IU vitamin D3 taken under direct observation at randomization and once a week for 3 weeks (four doses) followed by daily oral supplements containing 2000 IU vitamin D3 taken at home from the fourth week until trial discharge at 1 year post ART initiation. Trial participants are followed up at weekly clinic visits during the first month of ART and at monthly clinic visits thereafter until trial discharge at 1 year post ART initiation. Secondary aims of the trial are to examine the effect of the vitamin D3 regimen on CD4 T cell reconstitution, incidence of non-TB comorbidities, body mass index (BMI), depression and anxiety, physical activity, bone health, and immunologic biomarkers.Discussion: The ToV4 will provide causal evidence on the effect of vitamin D3 supplementation on incidence of pulmonary TB and mortality among HIV-infected Tanzanian adults initiating ART. The trial will also give insight to whether vitamin D3 supplementation trials for the prevention of pulmonary TB should be pursued in HIV-uninfected populations.Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01798680 . Registered on 21 February 2013. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: HIV-infected adults initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART) in sub-Saharan Africa continue to experience high rates of morbidity and mortality during the initial months of treatment. Observational studies in high-income and resource-limited settings indicate that HIV-infected adults with low vitamin D levels may be at increased risk of mortality, HIV disease progression, and incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). As a result, vitamin D3 supplementation may improve survival and treatment outcomes for HIV-infected adults initiating ART. Methods/Design The Trial of Vitamins-4 (ToV4) is an individually randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) supplementation conducted among 4000 HIV-infected adults with low vitamin D levels [25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) <30 ng/mL] initiating ART in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The two primary aims of the trial are to determine the effect of a vitamin D3 supplementation regimen on incidence of (1) mortality and (2) pulmonary TB as compared to a matching placebo regimen. The primary safety outcome of the study is incident hypercalcemia. The investigational vitamin D3 regimen consists of oral supplements containing 50,000 IU vitamin D3 taken under direct observation at randomization and once a week for 3 weeks (four doses) followed by daily oral supplements containing 2000 IU vitamin D3 taken at home from the fourth week until trial discharge at 1 year post ART initiation. Trial participants are followed up at weekly clinic visits during the first month of ART and at monthly clinic visits thereafter until trial discharge at 1 year post ART initiation. Secondary aims of the trial are to examine the effect of the vitamin D3 regimen on CD4 T cell reconstitution, incidence of non-TB comorbidities, body mass index (BMI), depression and anxiety, physical activity, bone health, and immunologic biomarkers. Discussion The ToV4 will provide causal evidence on the effect of vitamin D3 supplementation on incidence of pulmonary TB and mortality among HIV-infected Tanzanian adults initiating ART. The trial will also give insight to whether vitamin D3 supplementation trials for the prevention of pulmonary TB should be pursued in HIV-uninfected populations. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01798680. Registered on 21 February 2013. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13063-017-1819-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.