Abstract
Susceptibility of blood groups to HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis B virus infections in human subjects was
studied. One hundred and fifty adult male and female patients who came for routine check up at the
Heart to Heart Centre, General Hospital Calabar and the General Hospital Ogoja in Cross River State
were used for this investigation.The patients were classified into three groups with group I consisting of
sixty (60) normal subjects ( i.e. non HIV/AIDS and non HBV patients) serving as control. Group II was
made up of sixty (60) HIV/AIDS infected patients only and group III had thirty (30) patients co-infected
with HIV/AIDS and HBV. Blood and serum samples were collected and screened for both HIV/AIDS and
HBV. The blood and serum samples were assayed for totalprotein and bilirubin levels, aspartate
aminotransferase(AST), alanine aminotransferase(ALT) activities, antioxidants vitamins levels and
determination of blood groups. The results showed that group O+ had increased levels relative to
control and others,suggesting that patients with blood group O+ are more susceptible to HIV/AIDS and
HBV infections. The results showed that blood group B+ had decreased level relative to the control and
other blood groups, suggesting that patients with blood group B+ may resist HIV/AIDS and HBV
infections. The results also revealed that AST and ALT activities were significantly increased, suggesting
hepatic peroxidation and liver damage. The results also showed that the antioxidant vitamins(vitamin A
and vitamin C) were significantly decreased, suggesting high level of free radicals leading to hepatic
peroxidation and liver damage.
Key Words: HIV/AIDS infection, HBV infection, Aspartate aminotransferase, Alanine aminotransferse |