Haematological abnormalities associated with paediatric HIV/AIDS in Lagos I. M. O. ADETIFA, E. O. TEMIYE, A. O. AKINSULIE, V. C. EZEAKA & E. O. IROHA Department of Paediatrics, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria (Accepted January 2006) Abstract Introduction: In HIV-1-infected children, haematological disturbances include bone marrow abnormalities and peripheral cytopenias. All three major cell lineages can be depressed. Methods: A cross-sectional study of baseline haematological parameters was undertaken in 68 children with confirmed HIV infection. In all cases, a complete blood count was done and some had CD4z counts and HIV RNA PCR. The CD4z count was analysed by the Coulter manual latex particle monoclonal antibody methodH and HIV RNA PCR by Roche # Amplicor Monitor, version 1.5. Results: Anaemia (,100 g/L) was present in 77.9%, severe (,60 g/L) in 5.9%, moderate (60–70 g/L) in 32.3% and mild (80–99 g/L) in 39.7%. The mean haemoglobin concentration decreased as disease progressed (p,0.05); 6% had leucopenia, 17.5% had neutropenia and 2.5% (one case) had thrombocytopenia; also, the four (6%) subjects with leucopenia were in clinical stages B and C. Neutropenia, lymphocytopenia and thrombocytopenia were seen more in clinical stages B and C, though this relationship was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Both the erythroid and other cells lines are affected by HIV/AIDS and other associated factors. Anaemia is the most common haematological abnormality. The severity of peripheral cytopenias is related to the disease burden. Introduction Various haematological disturbances are associated with HIV infection, including bone marrow abnormalities and peripheral cytopenias. Anaemia, 1–4 leucopenia 5 and thrombocytopenia 2,6 are associated with more rapid progression to AIDS and a decreased survival rate. The mechanisms of suppression of these cell lines are multiple and include direct infection of haematopoietic precursor cells, 7,8 bone marrow stromal or endothelial cells by HIV 9–11 and the inhibitory effects of cytokines produced during HIV infection and replication. 12,13 Suppression can also be caused by infection with other pathogens and the adverse effects of anti- retroviral agents such as zidovudine and other drugs used for treatment and/or prevention of opportunistic infections. 14,15 The treatment of haematological distur- bances in HIV-infected subjects includes identifying the underlying causes with a view to the possible use of specific haematopoie- tic growth factors such as erythropoietin and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). This report documents the baseline haematological parameters in children presenting with HIV infection in relation to the clinical and immunological stage of disease as well as the disease burden. Reprint requests to: Dr A. O. Akinsulie, Department of Paediatrics, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria. E-mail: adebolaakinsulie@yahoo.com Annals of Tropical Paediatrics (2006) 26, 121–125 # 2006 The Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine DOI: 10.1179/146532806X107467