Abstract:
Background: Hepatoxicity is a major complication and side effect of antiretroviral therapy (ART).
Unfortunately, such studies in this area of evaluating the adverse drug reaction of ART on the liver
hepatocytes are only few in number in Nigeria. Objective: To determine the levels of some liver
enzymes in HIV/AIDS patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and as well evaluate their impact on
liver hepatocytes. Methods: This is a hospital-based case-control study. A total of 153 subjects were
recruited in the study, and they were divided into three groups: the control group (which consist of
apparently healthy subjects), the study group 1 (consist of HIV positive subject not on ART), and
study group 2 (consist of HIV/AIDS patients on ART). The liver enzymes Alanine amino Transferase
(ALT), Asparate amino Transfarase (AST) and Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) were determined using
enzyme linked spectrophotometric assay methods, according to the manufacturer’s specifications.
Results: The mean standard deviation (SD) of ALT and AST activity of the study group 1 showed
significant differences when compared with that of the control group P<0.001, but the ALP has no
significant differences P>0.05. In Study group 2, (HIV/AIDS patients on ART) showed significant
differences of P<0.001 in ALT, AST and ALP. Conclusion: Some liver enzymes were elevated in
subjects on antiretroviral therapy; this elevation could be due to hepatotoxicity of the (ART) used
by the HIV/AIDS patients on the liver hepatocytes.
