Pattern of Haematological Indices of Wistar Rats Administered Antiretroviral Therapy Singly or in Combination with Ascorbic Acid and α-Tocopherol

Abstract

Antiretroviral therapy use in the treatment of HIV/AIDS, has previously been linked to  anaemia or a decrease in haematologic performance. Given that HIV/AIDS   has a significant impact on immune responses, using antioxidants in the treatment of these disease may improve immunological outcomes, as evidenced by haematologic indices.  This  investigation sought to ascertain the haematological response of Wistar arts treated orally with Lamivudine and Zidovudine along with  Vitamins C and E. For 90 days, Wistar rats were given Zidovudine and Lamivodine orally along with vitamin C and E supplements. The rats were divided into groups: one group received Zidovudine and Lamivudine orally at a dose of 15 mg Zidovudine/kg/body and 7.5 mg Lamivudine/kg BW. Vitamin E was also administered at 25 IU/kg BW; the same dose was administered for Vitamin C. The other group received a combination of the antiretroviral drug (ARD) and an antioxidant. The last (or control) group received   distilled water at 10ml/kg. At the end of the treatment , the Wistar rats were humanly sacrificed and whole blood collected into Ethylene Diamine tetraacetic acid containers for analysis of haematological indices.  The effects of the antiretroviral therapy on red blood indices varied with the ARD administered; there was a significant increase in haematocrit levels in Lamivudine-treated Wistar rats (p<0.05).  The results also revealed that lymphocyte concentration was more likely to be related with Lamivudine+Vitamin E treatment than with Lamivudine administration alone. Similarly, the combination of Zidovudine and Vitamin C was more likely to impact platelet count concentrations than Zidovudine alone.