Role of Alcoholic Root Concoctions on Haematological and Renohepatic Function Markers Among HIV Patients in Some Rural Communities in Eastern Nigeria

N. M. Igboh¹, N. C. Chigbu¹, E. N. Agomuo², A. U. Audu³, D. Onwubiko¹, C. I. Emuchey¹, Okaraonye C. C⁴ and Onyesom I⁵

¹College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Abia State University Uturu Nigeria. ²Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Imo State University , Owerri Nigeria. ³Godwin Hospital , Off Sacred Heart, Faulks Road, Aba, Abia State, Nigeria. ⁴Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Abia State University,Nigeria. ⁵Deparment of Medical Biochemistry, Delta State University, Abraka Nigeria. Correspondence Author E-mail: drngomi @ yahoo.co.uk

Abstract: The spread of HIV is taking a frightening dimension among the rural people in Nigeria . Even in a situation, where some of these individuals exhibit suggestive symptoms of HIV infection or have been diagnosed HIV positive, instead of seeking for adequate medical care will rather take various alcoholic root extracts thereby, prolonging the time they would have used to seek appropriate medical care. We therefore carried out the normal routine HIV tests on the individuals who took such alcoholic root extracts before seeking for medical care and individuals that had not taken such extracts before coming to the hospital, focusing precisely on haematological indices, renal and liver function tests. Blood sample was collected from two hundred individuals involving 96 males and 104 females who took such alcoholic root extracts in Aba metropolis for more than six months before coming to the hospital. One hundred HIV positive patients who did not take such alcoholic extracts served as control. The haematological parameters monitored include total white blood cell counts (WBC), lymphocytes (L) neutrophil (N) counts, packed cell volume (PCV) and Hemoglobin (Hb) level. Biochemical parameters estimated were the concentrations of urea and creatinine. Serum aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) were also assayed. In addition, total bilirubin was also determined. As compared with patients who never took alcoholic root extracts, the patients that took such extracts before coming to the hospital when the symptoms manifested were severe, exhibited significant decrease in CD4, WBC and lymphocyte counts (P < 0.05). There was a slight increase in neutrophil number in those that used the alcoholic extracts compared with their HIV positive counterpart that never took such extracts. Observed in the same group was a significant reduction in Hb and PCV (P < 0.05). The activities of AST and ALT were also elevated in these individuals, same with total bilirubin. However, the concentrations of urea and creatinine were significantly different within the two groups (P < 0.05) but the concentrations obtained were within the normal range. The study tend to suggest that taking these alcoholic root extracts  and delay in seeking appropriate medical care may accelerate the progression of HIV to AIDS.

Keywords: Bilirubin; HIV; AIDS; Alcohol; CD4

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