BACKGROUND: Thyroid hormone abnormalities have been reported elsewhere in human
immunodeficiency virus‑1 (HIV‑1)‑infected individuals, but such studies in Nigerians are scarce in
literature.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate thyroid function in HIV‑1‑infected individuals and to correlate thyroid
function parameters with cluster of differentiation (CD4+) cell count.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Total thyroxine (T4), total triiodothyronine (T3), thyroid‑stimulating
hormone (TSH), and CD4+ were estimated in 100 HIV‑1‑positive individuals on highly active
antiretroviral therapy (HAART), 100 HIV‑1‑positive HAART naïve, and 100 HIV‑1‑negative controls.
The mean values were compared between the groups, and CD4+ cell count was correlated with
measured thyroid hormones.
RESULTS: Thyroid function abnormalities were seen in 52 HIV‑1‑positive individuals on HAART and
56 individuals without HAART treatment. The pattern of thyroid hormone abnormalities is similar in
both groups. Among the individuals on HAART, 10 had subclinical hypothyroid, 42 sick euthyroid,
and 48 had normal thyroid hormones levels. Similarly, among those without HAART therapy, seven
had subclinical hypothyroid, 49 sick euthyroid, and 44 had normal thyroid hormones levels. The
HIV‑1‑positive individuals had significantly lower (P < 0.001) CD4+ cell count, TSH (P < 0.05),
T3 (P < 0.01), and T4 (P < 0.001) when compared with controls. On the other hand, HIV‑1‑positive
individuals on HAART had significantly higher (P < 0.01) CD4+ cell count and lower (P < 0.05) T4 levels
than the HAART naïve group. CD4+ correlated positively with T4 in HIV‑1‑positive individuals on
HAART (r = 0.26; P = 0.016) and HAART naïve (r = 0.218; P = 0.038). There was no significant
correlation between CD4+ and measured thyroid hormones in the control individuals.
CONCLUSION: Asymptomatic thyroid hormone abnormalities are common in HIV‑infected individuals,
and these abnormalities are independent of whether the individuals were on HAART or without
HAART treatment.