Evaluation of Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time and Prothrombin Time in HIV and TB Patients in Owerri Metropolis

Background: Human immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Tuberculosis (TB) are the leading infectious diseases with high morbidity and mortality in the developing countries; it has been known to be associated with some coagulation abnormalities especially as the disease progresses. Aim: The study aimed at evaluating the effect of HIV- Tuberculosis co- infection on some haemostatic parameters (APTT & PT). It was carried out at Federal Medical Centre Owerri, Imo state. Materials and Methods: Sixty (60) subjects were sampled comprising fifteen (15) HIV positive subjects, fifteen (15) TB positive subjects, fifteen (15) HIV-TB co-infected subjects and fifteen (15) HIV and TB negative subjects (Control). Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (APTT) and Prothrombin Time (PT) were analyzed using standard techniques. Results: The results showed that HIV positive subjects showed a significant values of PT (15.45±1.44sec, P 0.05) when compared with the control subjects (29.05+2.19). TB subjects showed statistical significant values of PT (15.84±0.98scc, P 0.05) when compared with the control subjects (29.05+2.19 sec). Both the PT and APTT of HIV- tuberculosis Co-infected subjects showed significant values (17.03±1.46sec; 37.59±4.69sec, P 0.05) higher than compared with TB patients. Also there is a significant increase in APTT of TB patients (P 0.05). Conclusion: HIV infections have been shown to affect both the Activated partial thromboplastin time and prothrombin time. There is significant alteration in coagulation parameters (particularly PT and APTT) on tuberculosis, lesions as a result of the mycobacterial infection can induce pro- coagulant tissue factor expression which can lead to coagulation defects.