PROTEINURIA IN HIV POSITIVE PATIENTS;

DETERMINE THE FREQUENCY AT A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN KARACHI

Abstract

objective: To determine the frequency of proteinuria in HIV positive patients at a tertiary care hospital in Karachi. Study
design: Cross-sectional. Place and duration of study: This study was carried out in Infectious diseases wards and all medical wards of Civil
Hospital Karachi, from Jan 2011 to the Dec 2011. Methodology: A total of 170 patients from infection diseases wards and all medical wards of
Civil Hospital Karachi. Age more >12 years of either sex who were newly diagnosed cases of HIV based on positive HIV serology by ELISA and
Western blot in Infection diseases ward were Included. Patients having known kidney disease. urinary tract infection, serum creatinine more
than 1.5 mg/dl, diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure and old diagnosed cases of HIV who have already taken or who are taking HIV infection
treatment were excluded from this study. Spot urinary sample was taken to measure the proteinuria by urine dipstick. To minimize bias all
specimen sent to same laboratory of the hospital. Results: 170 newly diagnosed cases of HIV were included in this study. Gender distribution
showed male preponderance (Male: Female = 6.4:1). Majority of cases 120 (70.6%) had age between 26 – 50 years. Mean age of women was
30.3 ±7.4 years (min – max = 18 – 45 years) and for males was 34.3 ±9.6 years (min – max = 15 – 56 years). Out of 170 HIV positive cases
frequency of > 1+ protein in urine on urine dipstick analysis was found in 27 (15.9%) cases. Out 27 cases, 16 (59.3%) cases had age between
26-50 years (mean ±SD = 32 ±10.1 years, min – max = 18 – 55 years). Proteinuria was high in increasing age groups. Proportion of proteinuria
was high in married and depressed patients , out of 27 cases, 18 (66.7%) were married and 9 (33.3%) unmarried. Frequency of proteinuria was
high in labor class, 11 of 27 (40.7%) were labors followed by house wife 6 (22.3%), while 5 (18.5%) were private job holder. Conclusions: In this
study I found a high prevalence of proteinuria in HIV positive patients. Such subjects show male preponderance distribution. We conclude that
HIV positive patients should be screened for proteinuria and if they found to have proteinuria, they should be subjected to appropriate treatment
to retard the progression of nephropathy and associated complications.