Assessment of the effectiveness of two strategies of Antiretroviral therapy in Yemen

Abstract

Objective: This study is aimed to compare two strategies of ART combination that are used for HIV-infected adult males in Yemen. Methods: This study was conducted in Al-Jumhori hospital-Sana’a-Yemen. Eighty six patients with positive HIV infection were treated with the first strategy and another forty two patients age (22-65 years) were treated with the second strategy. Blood samples were collected and body weight was measured for the all patients before intake of ART combination and then after fifteen months and compared. Results: There was significant increase in the mean CD4 cell count in the second strategy (Lamivudine 150mg, Zidovudine 300mg and Nevirapine 200mg) from 173.4±15.20 to 250.2±25.0 (cells/mm3) (44.3%). Also there was significant increase in body weight from 54.29±1.08 to 56.72±1.13 kg (4.5%) compared with the first strategy (Lamivudine 150mg, Zidovudine 300mg and Nelfinavir 750mg orally) in which CD4 cell count from 238.7±21.9 to 328.95±21.6 (cells/mm3) (37.8%) and body weight from 54.38±1.69 to 55.99 kg (2.9%). Conclusion: The results demonstrate the activity of both strategies of ART combination in Yemen through reducing termination of patients by death and improving the health status of patient through increasing body weight.