Hematological Profile in HIV-Positive Patients: A Cross-Sectional Analysis from a Tertiary Care Centre

Background: Hematological abnormalities are common in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and are influenced by disease stage, opportunistic infections, and antiretroviral therapy (ART). Assessment of hematological parameters offers valuable insights for clinical management and prognosis, particularly in resource-limited settings. Material and Methods: This prospective, longitudinal study was conducted over 18 months at a tertiary care centre, enrolling 100 newly diagnosed HIV-positive patients before ART initiation. Patients already on ART, pregnant women, and those with malignancy were excluded. Baseline evaluations included hemoglobin, blood indices, total and differential leukocyte counts, platelet count, and CD4+ cell count. The same parameters were reassessed after six months of ART. Data were analysed using appropriate statistical tests, with p < 0.05 considered significant. Results: The cohort comprised 64% males and 36% females, with the largest age group being 30–39 years (37%). Most participants were married (77%) and had only primary (46%) or secondary (33%) education. Common occupations included non-agricultural labour (22%), housework (21%), and private employment (20%). After six months of ART, significant improvements were observed in hemoglobin (11.59 ± 2.44 to 12.43 ± 1.90 g/dL; p < 0.0001), mean corpuscular volume (84.15 ± 11.78 to 91.08 ± 11.10 fL; p < 0.0001), absolute lymphocyte count (p = 0.0028), platelet count (p = 0.0084), and CD4+ count (323.8 ± 254.02 to 465.02 ± 259.15 cells/mm³; p < 0.0001). Absolute monocyte count showed a significant decline (p = 0.0163). Total leukocyte, neutrophil, and eosinophil counts remained statistically unchanged. Conclusion: Hematological abnormalities are frequent in HIV infection at diagnosis. ART leads to significant improvements in several hematological parameters, particularly hemoglobin levels, lymphocyte count, platelet count, and CD4+ levels, underscoring its role in immune restoration.