[Prevalence of antibodies against hepatitis A and B in HIV-1-infected children and adolescents].
BACKGROUND
Patients coinfected with HIV and hepatitis B virus (HBV) have a higher risk of developing chronic HBV infection and a higher risk of hepatotoxicity. Hepatitis A virus (HAV) in HIV-infected patients may require antiretroviral treatment interruption, producing prolonged viremia. In this study, we assess the prevalence of protective antibodies in these patients.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence of IgG antibodies against HAV and antibody against HBs (anti-HBs) in a cohort of 121 HIV-infected children and adolescents (1-19 years), followed-up in 4 public hospitals in Madrid (Spain).


RESULTS
Among the total, 12.4% (95% CI: 7.1-19.6%) of children and adolescents had positive serology for HAV. Children of immigrant origin presented a higher percentage than children born in Spain: 50% vs. 6.2%, respectively (P<0.001). In addition, 16.5% (95% CI: 10.4-24.3) of the study population had protective anti-HBs. A higher percentage of children with anti-HBs antibodies was seen in CDC clinical category A: 20% vs. 16% of those in clinical category B vs. 9.4% of those in clinical category C (P=0.19). The percentage of positive-positive children progressively decreased according to the years elapsed since HBV vaccination.


CONCLUSIONS
Most HIV-infected children and adolescents have no protective antibodies against natural infection by HBV and HAV. More studies are needed to define the best vaccination strategy to achieve a higher percentage of patients protected against these infections.
Fernández-Ibieta
María
M
Servicio de Pediatría, Hospital Universitario de Getafe, Madrid, España. mfndezibieta2@hotmail.com
Ramos
Jose Tomás
JT
González-Tomé
Maria Isabel
MI
Guillén
Sara
S
Navarro
Marisa
M
Cilleruelo
Maria José
MJ
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood*; D015497:HIV-1; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000276:immunology*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D007074:Immunoglobulin G