EFFECT OF HEPATITIS-B VIRUS CO-INFECTION ON CD4 CELL COUNT AND LIVER FUNCTION OF HIV INFECTED PATIENTS
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Date
2014-06
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Publisher
GHANA MEDICAL JOURNAL
Abstract
Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
and Hepatitis B virus (HBV) share similar routes of
transmission, making it possible for an individual to
have a co-infection. HBV infection is well known to be
a major cause of chronic liver diseases worldwide. The
aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of
HBV infection among HIV infected HAART naïve
patients and investigate the effect of co-infection on
CD4 count and liver function.
Study design: This was a hospital based descriptive
cross sectional study of one hundred consecutive thera-
py-naive HIV-infected individuals. The CD4 count,
Hepatitis B surface antigen, Serum albumin, total Pro-
tein, and liver enzymes were determined using standard
techniques.
Results: The prevalence of HIV and HBV co-infection
was 37%. The mean serum ALT and ALP were signifi-
cantly higher in the co- infected patients (P-values
<0.05). The mean CD4 count of the mono infected
patients was significantly higher (p-value of 0.014).
The mean serum ALT, AST and ALP of mono and co-
infected patients with CD4 count<200/μl were signifi-
cantly higher than those with count ≥ 200 cells/μl. (p-
value of <0.01). The mean ALT and AST of the co -
infected patients and all patients with CD4 count <200
cells/μl were higher than the normal reference range.
Conclusion: Approximately one third of HIV positive
patients had hepatitis B virus co-infection. Co-
infection and CD4 count <200 cells/μl are likely to
result in abnormal ALT and AST. We recommend
those co-infected patients and those with CD4 count
<200 cells/μl should be given non-hepatotoxic an-
tiretroviral drug.
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Keywords
Citation
HIV, Hepatitis B, CD4 count, liver func- tion, co-infection