Paediatric HIV: Correlation between Serum Zinc Levels and CD4 Percentage on Asymptomatic Nigerian Children Living with HIV

Abstract

Objective: This study was conducted to determine the relationship between their serum zinc levels and the CD4% in a cohort children living with HIV. Methods: One hundred asymptomatic, anti-retroviral Therapy (ART) naïve children living with HIV (participants) aged 5-60 months who were enrolled into the Paediatric HIV clinic of The University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital were recruited in the study over a 10-month period. Blood samples were collected in the morning from non-fasting participants and serum zinc levels were analysed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The CD4% was ascertained using the CD4% easy count kit on the Partec® Cyflow Counter machine. Data were analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 19. Result: The median (IQR) serum zinc level for the participants was 55.5 μg/dl (49.75) while their median (IQR) CD4% was 27.79% (18.67). Males had a median (IQR) CD4% of 24.29% (19.10) which was significantly lower than those of females [32% (20.59) (p = 0.047)]. No significant relationship was found between CD4% and zinc levels among the subjects (r = -0.061, p = 0.557). Conclusion: Serum zinc levels of asymptomatic ART naïve children living with HIV have no relationship with their CD4%.