title: The role of triple infection with hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type-1 on CD4+ lymphocyte levels in the highly HIV infected population of North-Central Nigeria.
abstract: We set out to determine the seroprevalence of hepatitis B and C among human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) infected individuals in North-Central Nigeria to define the influence of these infections on CD4+ lymphocytes cells among our patients as access to antiretroviral therapy improves across the Nigerian nation. The CD4+ values of 180 confirmed HIV-1 infected individuals were enumerated using a superior fluorescence-activated cell sorter system. These patients were tested for the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen and anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) using third generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Fifty (27.8%) patients had active hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection while 33 (18.3%) tested positive for anti-HCV antibody. Of these infections, 110 (61.1%), 37 (20.6%), and 20 (11.1%) had HIV only, HBV/HIV-only, and HCV/HIV-only respectively. A HBV/HCV/HIV coinfection prevalence of 7.2% (13 patients) was recorded. Patients coinfected with HIV/HBV/HCV appeared to have lower CD4+ counts (mean = 107 cells/microl; AIDS defining) when compared to HBV/HIV-only (mean = 377 cells/microl), HCV/HIV-only (mean = 373 cells/microl) and patients with mono HIV infection (mean = 478 cells/microl). Coinfection with HBV or HCV is relatively common among HIV-infected patients in Nigeria and should be a big consideration in the initiation and choice of therapy.
authors.affiliation: Virology Laboratory, Innovative Biotech-Keffi No. 1, Keffi, Nasarawa State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Forbi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gabadi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Alabi
authors.forename: H O
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Iperepolu
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Pam
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Entonu
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Agwale
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies