HBV Co-Infection in HIV infected patients and its effect on progress of the disease

Co-infection of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) is a common event due to similar routes of transmission, with significant clinical implications. Progression to liver disease is more rapid in HIV-HBV coinfected patients. The present study was designed to find the sero-prevalence of HBV in newly diagnosed HIV positive patients

200 newly diagnosed HIV positive cases were enrolled in present study. 3–5 cc blood was collected from these patients and HBsAg ELISA was carried out on serum obtained. HBsAg positive samples were processed further to detect HBeAg and anti-HBeAg by ELISA. Liver Function Tests (LFTs) and CD4 T cell count were noted

Out of 200 HIV positive patients, 4% were co-infected with HBV. Out of the 4% co-infected cases 37.5% were HBeAg positive and 62.5% were anti-HBe positive None of the HIV-HBV co-infected case had a CD4 T-cell count >500 cells/μL whereas 55.2% of HIV mono-infected cases had CD4 T-cell counts > 500 cells/μL. 37.5% HIV-HBV co-infected cases had CD4 T-cell count ≤200 cells/μL whereas only 11.4% HIV mono-infected cases had CD4 T-cell count ≤200 cells/μL.HIV-HBV co-infected cases had more deranged liver enzymes. 50% of HIV-HBV co-infected cases belonged to WHO stage II, whereas majority (91.6%) of HIV mono-infected cases belonged to WHO stage I

This study highlights that, routine screening of HBsAg should done in all HIV infected patients and virological markers of HBV, Liver Function Tests and CD4 T cell count of HIV-HBV co-infected patients should be assessed for appropriate management.