Pattern of serum amylase activity in HIV seropositive subjects on anti-retroviral therapy

The present study was designed to assess the impact of antiretroviral therapy (ART) combinations of Nevirepine, Lamivudine and stavudine on the pancrease using serum amylase activity as indicator for pancreatic impairment. For this study 20 symptomatic HIV subjects (female =12, male=8) were recruited prior to ART and followed-up for 4 months into ART. Similarly, 20 HIV seronegative subjects (female =10, male =10) were also recruited as control subjects. Blood sample was collected at pre-ART, 2 months and 4 months into ART from the symptomatic HIV subjects but once from the control subjects for HIV screening, determination of CD4+T cell and serum amylase activity using standard laboratory methods. The result showed significant serum amylase activity by 4 months into ART compared with corresponding value in the control subjects (p 0.1). sex distribution showed significant serum amylase activity amongst the male symptomatic HIV subjects by 4 months into ART (p Journal of Biomedical Investigation Vol. 5 (1) 2007: pp. 44-48