Abstract
Even though the survival of the population infected with HIV has been increased due to the intensification of antiretroviral therapy, co-infection with hepatitis B or hepatitis C has attracted the attention of doctors and other health professionals regarding the increased incidence of chronic complications resulting from viral hepatitis in HIV-infected population, which differs from that with other opportunistic diseases. Women coinfected with these viruses have an increased risk of complications during pregnancy, and the vertical transmission of these infections cause significant morbidity and mortality among children. This study aimed to investigate the risks of co-infection with HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C during pregnancy, through a literature review of the last ten years, using the databases LILACS, MEDLINE and SCIELO, which make up the Virtual Health Library. A total of 106 articles were found, by searching in these databases, 46 of which were pre-selected to be read in full, resulting in 15 approved articles. It was noted that most of the accepted studies were carried out in countries of sub-Saharan Africa and Europe, followed by Brazil and the United States. The presence of co-infections made the infection worse and led to disease progression, both in the mother and in the child, compared to infection with only one of these viruses. Therefore, early diagnosis and prevention and treatment are essential to reduce and prevent the vertical transmission of these viruses.
Highlights
The emergence of AIDS as an epidemic occurred worldwide in the late 1970s, and the first cases were detected in the United States, Haiti, and Central Africa
This study aimed to investigate, through an integrative review, the risks of co-infection with HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C in pregnancy, highlighting the epidemiological, clinical and diagnostic aspects of such infections during pregnancy
Guiding question “What are the possible risks to the mother, fetus or newborn when there is a co-infection associated with hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV?”
Summary
The emergence of AIDS as an epidemic occurred worldwide in the late 1970s, and the first cases were detected in the United States, Haiti, and Central Africa. The possible factors of transmission were already known in these groups. In 1983, the first cases arose in women (with an increase in vertical transmission, accounting for more than 80% of the cases in children under 13 years old), children and health professionals (Marques, 2012; Sousa et al, 2012). Some studies carried out in the United States and Europe in recent years have shown that hepatopathies (chronic liver failure, cirrhosis, and hepatocarcinoma) have become a significant cause of hospitalization and death among patients, and it is currently the leading cause of death among HIV-infected patients, according to some health centers (Beringer et al, 2012) HIV is a spherical particle with a diameter between 100 and 120 nm, it belongs to the Family Retroviridae and genus Lentivirus, and its nucleus contains two copies of single-stranded RNA, encapsulated by a protein layer or nucleocapsid, capsid, and an outer envelope composed of a phospholipid bilayer (Veras, 2010).
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