Type of HIV Influence on Iron Metabolism in Pregnant and Non-pregnant Women on Antiretroviral Therapy in Integrated Centre for Bioclinical Research of Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire)

Abstract

Introduction: HIV has a significant effect on iron metabolism in women of childbearing age in developing countries. The purpose of this study is to identify in this population layer, the type of HIV truly responsible for changes in iron metabolism. Materials and Methods: Thus, 395 HIV infected women of childbearing age were selected. This population included 120 non-pregnant women and 275 pregnant women in consultation at the Integrated Center for Bioclinical Research Abidjan (ICBRA). Blood samples were collected from each of the subjects for HIV status, hematological, immunological, and various biological indicators of iron status determination. Results: The results of the study indicated that women infected with HIV-1 and HIV-2 had a high mean values ​​of hemoglobin, serum ferritin and iron stores. In addition, women infected with the two types of HIV had the lowest mean values ​​of total transferrin binding capacity, transferrin saturation factors, and CD4+ levels compared to the other groups of women. However, women infected with HiV-1 showed the highest prevalence of anemia (65.3%). This rate of anemia is higher in pregnant women (45.3%) compared to non-pregnant one (20%). Moreover, 77.5% of women infected with HIV had abnormal iron status with a high prevalence of inflammatory anemia (52.9%). No significant nutritional anemia was observed in the study population. Conclusion: Pregnant women were the most affected by the degradation of iron metabolism. HIV-1 was the type of virus that caused the most impairment of iron status in the subjects of our study.