SIGNIFICANCE COMMENTS

Liver-related mortalities are the frequent types observed in HIV/AIDS patients and these are usually attributed either to the singular or combined actions of such common factors as antiretroviral drugs regimens, hepatitis virus, and alcohol. The bulk of research works on HIV/AIDS-related incidences are routinely focused on haematological parameters and key liver enzymes without adequately quantifying the contribution of each key aetiological factor. In the current approach, authors use a very large sample size to single out the roles of each contributing factor through histopathological studies. Specific histopathological presentations are produced to characterise the effect of each therapeutic regimen and alcohol which, in my point of view of a biomedical scientist, could be clinically and pharmaceutically invaluable.

QUALITY COMMENTS

It is a robust study design in which, large number of participants were drawn from across various geographical boundaries and prospectively followed after being thoroughly screened. The retrospective examination of patients' medical record to determine the cause of death of retained participants seems confusing to me because retrospective examination of patients' medical records was the basis of selection of study subjects . Overall, the methods are well-described and executed, the paper is generally well-presented with a good conclusion that is supported by the research findings.