Epidemiological analysis of serological markers of hepatitis B in HIV+ patients from Curitiba and metropolitan region

Aline C Vieira,Iara M Reason,Maria R P A Tizzot,Vera L P Santos,Fernanda Bovo

doi:10.5935/1676-2444.20150004

Aline C Vieira, Iara M Reason + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.5935/1676-2444.20150004

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Abstract

Introduction: The presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in patients infected by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) leads to a higher incidence of liver disorders due to persistence and recurrence of HBV infection in addition to increased morbidity and mortality. Objective: To determine the prevalence of serological markers for hepatitis B in patients infected by HIV followed at Hospital de Clinicas da Universidade Federal do Parana (HC-UFPR). Methods: The clinical and epidemiological data were collected through a questionnaire applied to the patients, as well as a retrospective analysis of medical records. Serum levels of total hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) and surface antigen of the hepatitis B virus (HBsAg) were evaluated through chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay. Among the 297 HIV+ patients, 49.8% were seropositive only for anti-HBc, and 2.6 % were positive for both markers. Results and discussion: The prevalence of hepatitis B markers was significantly associated with HIV infection when compared with the prevalence observed in the general population from the same geographical area (anti-HBc+ HBsAg+: 0.14% vs. 2.6%, OR: 18.82, 95% CI 2.34-151.19, p = 0.00052). Concerning the associated risks to acquire HIV/HBV infection, 44.87% of the patients reported having been infected through sexual contact. A total of 16.66% HIV/HBV positive patients were in the age group 18-30 years, 62.82% were between 31-50 years and 16.66% were over 60 years old. Conclusion: The findings of the present study corroborate the need to investigate systematically the presence of markers for HBV in HIV+ patients from different regions of the country.

Highlights

The presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in patients infected by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) leads to a higher incidence of liver disorders due to persistence and recurrence of HBV infection in addition to increased morbidity and mortality
Epidemiological studies about HIV/HBV coinfection are even scarcer in the state of Paraná, which holds an important position in the context of viral coinfections in Brazil, according to other studies[14]
Because HIV/HBV coinfection can modify the course of hepatitis B, being related to morbidity and mortality increase, accelerating the disease progression to fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma[16, 17]

Summary

Introduction

The presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in patients infected by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) leads to a higher incidence of liver disorders due to persistence and recurrence of HBV infection in addition to increased morbidity and mortality. Among the 297 HIV+ patients, 49.8% were seropositive only for anti-HBc, and 2.6 % were positive for both markers. Results and discussion: The prevalence of hepatitis B markers was significantly associated with HIV infection when compared with the prevalence observed in the general population from the same geographical area (anti-HBc+ HBsAg+: 0.14% vs 2.6%, OR: 18.82, 95% CI 2.34-151.19, p = 0.00052). The HIV/HBV coinfection rates vary according to the origin of the studied population and the geographic position, among other factors[2, 3], what illustrates the importance of epidemiological studies in different populations. Morbidity and mortality from hepatic diseases are significantly higher in HIV carriers[2, 3]

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