Abstract
BackgroundThe study assessed the hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infection paradigm among the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected patients attending a tertiary hospital in Ghana. Also, the immunological and virological characterisation of these viruses, prior to antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation was investigated.MethodA total of 400 HIV infected (HIV type-1) treatment naïve subjects ≥18 years were enrolled and tested for HBsAg and anti-HCV. Hepatitis B virus serological profile was performed on samples that were HBV positive. CD4+ T-cell count and HIV-1 RNA viral loads were determined using BD FacsCalibur analyzer (USA) and COBAS AmpliPrep/COBAS TaqMan Analyzer (USA) respectively.ResultsThe overall prevalence of HBV/HCV co-infection among the HIV-1 patients was 18.0%. The prevalence of HIV-HBV and HIV-HCV co-infections were 12.5% and 5.5% respectively. The prevalence of active viral hepatitis (HBeAg-positive) among HIV-HBV co-infected patients was 40%. None of the patients had anti-HBc IgM. HIV-HBV co-infection was associated with lower CD4+ T-cell count as well as higher HIV-1 viral load compared to both HIV mono- infection and HIV-HCV co- infection (p<0.05) respectively. HBeAg positivity was associated with severe immunosuppression and higher HIV viral load. Patients aged 18–33 years [aOR = 9.66(1.17–79.61); p = 0.035], male gender [aOR = 2.74(1.15–6.51); p = 0.023], primary education [aOR = 9.60(1.21–76.08); p = 0.032], secondary education [aOR = 14.67(1.82–118.08); p = 0.012] and being single [aOR = 2.88(1.12–7.39); p = 0.028] were independent risk factors of HIV-HBV co-infections but not HIV-HCV co-infections.ConclusionThe present study highlights the predominance of HBV exposure among the HIV infected patients in Ghana. HBV coinfection was associated with severe immunosuppression and higher HIV-1 viral load.
Highlights
The current study was motivated by reports that data on individuals co-infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and viral hepatitis in West Africa was still emerging [1,2,3]
HIV-hepatitis B virus (HBV) co-infection was associated with lower CD4+ T-cell count as well as higher HIV-1 viral load compared to both HIV monoinfection and HIV-hepatitis C virus (HCV) co- infection (p
The present study highlights the predominance of HBV exposure among the HIV infected patients in Ghana
Summary
The current study was motivated by reports that data on individuals co-infected with HIV and viral hepatitis in West Africa was still emerging [1,2,3]. About 400 million people are infected with hepatitis B virus and 180 million are infected with hepatitis C virus Both infections account for 60% of cirrhosis and 80% of hepatocellular carcinoma and cause one million deaths worldwide each year, mostly in poor countries [9]. Reports suggested that both viral hepatitis infections are associated with more rapid progression of liver fibrosis and fibrogenesis during HIV co-infection and liver pathology has become the leading causes of death in some countries [10,11,12]. The immunological and virological characterisation of these viruses, prior to antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation was investigated
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