Ocular findings in HIV positive patients in Kabgayi hospital, Rwanda

Abstract

The eye is one of the commonly affected organs by HIV /AlDS. However, data on HIV /AlDS related ocular lesions among HIV positive patients is not available in Rwanda. Objectives The objective was to determine the prevalence and pattern of ocular findings in patients with HIV/AIDS on HAART and those not on HAART. ethod This was a cross sectional descriptive study conducted on HIV positive patients attending the HIV clinic in Kabgayi Hospital, in which those aged 16 years and above were evaluated for ocular lesions. Their demographic data, history of CD4 cell count and use of HAAR Twas taken. Visual acuity was assessed with the use of a snellen's chart. Both anterior and posterior segments were examined using a Haag Streit 900 slit lamp, direct and indirect ophthalmoscope. Data was recorded in a questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 12.0. A significance level of 95 % was used. Result A total number of 252 patients (169 females and 83 males) with a mean age of 40.4 years were examined. The current CD4 cell count was ranging from 72 to 2601 cells/pl. with a mean of 501.3. The prevalence of HIV related ocular lesions was 23%. The most common ocular lesions were Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus (1.5%) in the adnexa, dry eye syndrome (16.6%) in the anterior segment and both papilloedema and papillitis (0.4%) in the posterior segment. There was no statistically significant association between the ocular manifestations and CD4 cell count, duration of being on HAART or the WHO HIV staging in this study. Conclusion The commonest ocular disease was dry eye syndrome. Majority of the patients were receiving HAART and had high CD4 cell count. This may explain the relatively low prevalence of HIV related eye disease.