Abstract

Prasetyaning Estu Pratiwi, Usman Hadi, Muhammad Vitanata Arfijanto

Background: Zidovudine, one of the combination antiretroviral used to treat HIV/AIDS, is the most common cause of anemia in HIV patients. Anemia related to zidovudine in HIV can worsen HIV infection. This study determined the hemoglobin level and effect of zidovudine therapy on HIV naïve patients in the first three months initiation therapy. Methods: Observational analytic study with longitudinal prospective approach was carried out all new HIV patients who received zidovudine therapy. Hemoglobin examination was done at the beginning of the examination and every month for the first three months of zidovudine therapy. Results: Thirteen (38.23%) subjects developed a decrease in hemoglobin levels. The highest incidence of decreased hemoglobin levels in month 2 was in 11 (84.6%) subjects. The mean hemoglobin levels before the initiation of zidovudine ARV and after 3rd month therapy were 12.75±1.57 and 11.94±2.23 g/dl, respectively. The mean decrease in hemoglobin levels of zidovudine therapy was 2.24±1.99 g/dl. There was an effect of three months of zidovudine therapy on decreasing hemoglobin levels in HIV naïve patients with a statistical significance (p = 0.006). Conclusion: There was an effect of zidovudine therapy on decreasing hemoglobin levels in the first three months of ARV therapy HIV naïve patients.