title: Prevalence of hepatitis B e antigen among human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis B virus co-infected patients in Jos, Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) negatively impacts the natural history of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, including replication. We determined the prevalence of HBeAg in HIV/HBV co-infected patients compared to HBV mono-infected controls and further investigated the relationship between HBeAg seropositivity and the degree of HIV-induced immunosuppression in co-infected patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study design was cross-sectional. One hundred HBsAg-positive HIV-infected adults and 100 age and sex matched HBsAg-positive HIV negative controls were consecutively recruited between May and November 2010. Relevant demographic and HBV-related information was obtained. HBeAg was assayed by semi-quantitative third generation ELISA. The HIV/HBV co-infected patients also had CD4+ cell and HIV viral load quantification measured using flow cytometry and polymerase chain reaction techniques respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In each group, the mean age was 34 ± 8 years and the majority (61%) was female. The prevalence of HBeAg was significantly higher among co-infected patients (n = 28; 28%) than in the controls (n = 15; 15%; p = 0.03). HBeAg seropositivity was independently associated with age < 40 years (AOR = 2.83, 95% = CI 1.29-6.17) and HIV seropositivity (AOR = 2.44, 95% C.I = 1.17-5.07). The prevalence of HBeAg was significantly higher in co-infected patients with CD4 cell count < 200 cell/µL (41.3%) compared to those with 200-499 cell/µL (18.6%) and ≥500 cell/µL (9.1%), p = 0.006.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HIV/HBV co-infected patients have a significantly higher prevalence of HBeAg than HBV mono-infected individuals. HBV-infected patients should be routinely assessed for HBeAg, especially if they are co-infected with HIV.
authors: Department of Medicine, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria. mikezindu@yahoo.com.
authors: Michael O
authors: MO
authors: Iroezindu
authors: Comfort A
authors: CA
authors: Daniyam
authors: Oche O
authors: OO
authors: Agbaji
authors: Ejiji S
authors: ES
authors: Isa
authors: Edith N
authors: EN
authors: Okeke
authors: Godwin E
authors: GE
authors: Imade
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D019562:Viral Load; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens