PREVALENCE OF HEPATITIS VIRAL CO-INFECTION IN HIV-POSITIVE PATIENTS IN NNEWI, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study was conducted to ascertain the prevalence of hepatitis B and hepatitis C viral co-infection among Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-positive patients in Nnewi South Eastern Nigeria. Two hundred (200) HIV-positive patients; (100) HIV-positive on Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) and (100) HIV-positive patients not on ART were recruited for the study. One hundred (100) apparently healthy HIV-negative individuals served as control subjects. All subjects were between the ages of 18-40 years. Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg) and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) tests showed that 18 (18%) of the HIV-positive patients not on ART and 20 (20%) of those on ART were co-infected with HBsAg, while 16 (16%) of the patients not on ART and 23 (23%) of those on ART were co-infected with HCV. Only 1(1%) of the control subjects was positive for HBsAg while none for HCV. The result of the present study shows that the HIVpositive patients arc at a greater risk of being co- infected with cither HBV or HCV. To minimize the emergence of HIV and/or HBsAg and HCV resistance, or a rise in liver enzymes should be noted and the treatment of both infections should be coordinated. Therefore, the hepatitis viral co-infection status of the HIV-positive patients on ART should be assessed occasionally as this will aid in treating and monitoring of the patients.