SSESSMENT OF BIOCHEMISTRY PROFILES OF TUBERCULOSIS AND TB-HIV COINFECTED PATIENTS RECEIVING TREATMENT AT THE NATIONAL TUBERCULOSIS REFERENCE CENTER, ZARIA, NIGERIA

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a global health issue with high morbidity and mortality rates especially in the developing
countries such as Nigeria. It is a multi-organ disease and can influence biochemical changes. This study sought to
determine the effect of tuberculosis and its drug treatment on serum biochemical parameters in 238 patients
assessing treatment at the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Training Center (NTBLTC) Saye-Zaria, Nigeria. The
study took place between May, 2021 and February, 2022, analysis was carried out at the baseline and after eight
months of treatment with anti-tubercular and antiretroviral drugs, based on WHO guidelines with regular close
monitoring. The values of sodium, potassium, albumin and creatinine are influenced during TB infection and its
treatment. The percentage distribution of the parameters before and after treatment were statistically significant with
P-value <0.05. Values recorded for serum creatinine levels in this study were lower among patients infected with
only TB as compared to the values recorded for TB-HIV infected patients but the differences were not statistically
significant. The research concludes that the values of biochemistry parameters are influenced during TB infection
and its treatment. HIV status does not overtly affect the values of biochemistry parameters as observed from the
result of the study, even though co-infection could increase the severity of the disease thereby increasing morbidity.