title: Hepatic transaminase and alkaline phosphatase enzyme levels in HIV/HBV co-infected and HIV mono-infected patients in Maiduguri, Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Studies have shown that HIV-HBV co-infected patients have an increased risk of liver-related morbidity and mortality compared to their HIV-mono-infected counterparts. Furthermore, it has been reported that HIV-HBV co-infected patients have a significantly high incidence of drug-induced hepatotoxicity following commencement of HAART than HIV-mono-infected patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the levels of aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALKPO 4 ) enzyme levels between HAART naïve HIV-HBV co-infected patients and their HIV-mono-infected counterparts.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional descriptive study in which 142 newly diagnosed HIV/HBV co-infected and HIV mono-infected adults were investigated for alkaline aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase enzyme levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study subjects comprised of 80 (56.3%) females and 62 (46.7%) males. The age range of the study population was 15-65 years. The mean ages of male and female subjects were 45.5 ± 10.5 years and 39.1 ± 7.5 years respectively ( P < 0.05). Sixty-three (44.4%) study subjects were HIV/HBV co-infected while 79 (55.6%) were HIV mono-infected. The mean ALT enzyme level of HIV/HBV co-infected subjects was significantly higher than that of HIV mono-infected ones i.e., 42.12 IU/l vs. 27.86 IU/l, ( P = 0.038). However, there was no statistically significant difference in the mean AST (30.14 IU/l vs. 29.09 IU/l, P = 0.893) and ALKPO 4 (55.86 IU/l vs. 60.97 IU/l, P = 0.205) enzyme levels between HIV-HBV co-infected and HIV mono-infected subjects albeit the two enzymes were moderately elevated in both categories of subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The significantly elevated ALT enzyme levels amongst HIV-HBV co-infected subjects suggest that HIV-HBV co-infected patients may have an increased risk of liver-related morbidity and mortality than their HIV mono-infected counterparts. Screening for serological markers of chronic HBV infection, as well as hepatic transaminase enzyme levels in all newly diagnosed HIV-positive patients is therefore recommended before commencement of HAART.
authors: Department of Medicine, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria.
authors: B W
authors: BW
authors: Goni
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Yusuph
authors: S K
authors: SK
authors: Mustapha
authors: M A
authors: MA
authors: Sahabi
authors: S A
authors: SA
authors: Gwalabe
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Tahir
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Bakki
authors: I M
authors: IM
authors: Kida
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000032:analysis; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000032:analysis*; D060085:Coinfection; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D000637:Transaminases / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000637:Transaminases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase