[Biological profile of adult patients infected with HIV at initiation of antiretroviral therapy in Togo].

Objective: The study's objective was to determine the CD4 count and laboratory abnormalities in adults infected with HIV at initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Togo.

Methods: A retrospective and descriptive study was made of all patients on HAART in 2009 in Togo.

Results: A total of 5106 patients were included with a median age of 35 years. 68.6% were female patients. HIV1 infection was predominant (97.5%). The mean CD4) count at treatment initiation was 134 cells/μl. Among these patients, 22.1% had a CD4 count below 50 cells/μl and 73.8% had a CD4 count below 200 cells/μl. The median hemoglobin level was 10.4 g/dl. Transaminase level was elevated (grade 1 and above) in 55.9% of patients for AST, and in 29.8% of patients for ALT. Mean serum creatinine was 9.6 ± 5 mg/l.

Conclusion: Initiation of ART is late in Togo, consequently a significant proportion of patients present with severe immunosuppression on initiation of treatment. Improving strategies for mass screening should increase the number of patients treated early to better meet WHO 2009 recommendations.