title: Co-infections of hepatitis B and C with human immunodeficiency virus among adult patients attending human immunodeficiency virus outpatients clinic in Benin City, Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatitis B and C viral co-infections with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are known to affect progression, management, and outcome of HIV infection. This study was aimed to access the prevalence of hepatitis B and C co-infections in HIV-infected adult patients in the University of Benin Teaching Hospital with a view of understanding the gravity of this problem in the local population.
  
  
  METHODS
  The descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out on 342 HIV-infected adult patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy attending HIV Outpatients Clinic of University of Benin Teaching Hospital, between April and September, 2011. Patients' sera were screened for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) using immunochromatographic-based kits. Clinical stage of HIV and CD4+ cell counts were equally evaluated. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 17.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 324 HIV-infected patients screened, 53 (15.5%) were positive for HBsAg, 24 (7.0%) positive for hepatitis C virus antibodies (HCV-Ab), while 2 (0.6%) were positive for both viruses. Seroprevalence of HBsAg was higher in male (17.8%) than in female (14.7%) (χ2=0.49, P=0.49), while the reverse is the case for HCV-Ab; 7.1% for female and 6.7% for male (χ2=0.02, P=0.88). Seroprevalences of HBsAg and HCV-Ab were also higher among patients in World Health Organization disease stages 3-4 and patients with CD4+ cell count≤200 cell/ml compared to those in stages 1-2 and with CD4+ cell count>200 cell/ml.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Co-infection with hepatitis B virus and HCV among HIV/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients is still a problem in our environment. Screening for these viruses among HIV/AIDS patients will allow for early detection and proper management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Ojide
authors.forename: E I
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Kalu
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ogbaini-Emevon
authors.forename: V U
authors.initials: VU
authors.lastname: Nwadike
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D060085:Coinfection / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006678:HIV; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D010045:Outpatients; D015995:Prevalence; D055815:Young Adult