Prevalence of hepatitis B and C seropositivity in a Nigerian cohort of HIV-infected patients.
BACKGROUND
The clinical and public health implications of the convergence of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic and chronic viral hepatitis in sub-Saharan Africa are poorly understood. This study was designed to determine the seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV), and the impact of co-infection on baseline serum alanine transaminase (ALT), CD4+ T lymphocyte (CD4) count, and plasma HIV-RNA (viral load) in a cohort of HIV-infected Nigerians.


METHODS
A retrospective study was conducted, on eligible treatment-naive patients who presented between August 2004 and February 2007 to the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Nigeria. Demographic data and pre-treatment laboratory results (hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), HCV antibodies (anti-HCV), ALT, CD4 count and viral load) were retrieved from the medical records. Fisher's exact, two sample t-tests, and the Wilcoxon rank sum tests were used to compare groups. A logistic regression model was fitted to explore characteristics associated with co-infection status.


RESULTS
A total of 1779 HIV-infected patients (male: female ratio, 1:2) met inclusion criteria. HBsAg was present in 11.9%, anti-HCV in 4.8% and both markers in 1%. HBsAg was more common among males than females (15.4% vs 10.1%, respectively p = 0.001) while anti-HCV was detected in a similar proportion of males and females (5.3% versus 4.6%, respectively p = 0.559). HIV-infected patients with anti-HCV alone had a lower mean baseline CD4 count compared to those without anti-HCV or HBsAg (197 cells/mm3 vs 247 cells/mm3, respectively p = 0.008). Serum ALT was higher among patients with HBsAg compared to those without HBsAg or anti-HCV (43 International Units (IU) vs. 39 IU, respectively p = 0.015). Male gender was associated with HBV co-infection on logistic regression (OR1.786; 95% CI, 1.306-2.443; p < 0.005).


CONCLUSIONS
More HIV-infected females than males presented for care in this cohort. We identified a relatively high prevalence of HBV and HCV co-infection in general, and a higher rate of HBV co-infection among males than females. Pre-treatment CD4 count was significantly lower among those with HCV co-infection, while ALT was slightly higher among those with HBV co-infection. Triple infection with HIV, HBV and HCV was present in a small but significant proportion of patients. These findings underscore the importance of testing for HBV and HCV in all HIV-infected persons in our setting.
Otegbayo
Jesse A
JA
Departments of Medicine, Gastrointestinal/Liver Unit, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. otegbayoa@comui.edu.ng.
Taiwo
Babafemi O
BO
Akingbola
Titilola S
TS
Odaibo
Georgina N
GN
Adedapo
Kayode S
KS
Penugonda
Sudhir
S
Adewole
Isaac F
IF
Olaleye
David O
DO
Murphy
Rob
R
Kanki
Phyllis
P
D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D019562:Viral Load
D000410:Alanine Transaminase