3rd International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Pathogenesis and Treatment Rio de Janeiro - July 24 - 27, 2005

SEROPREVALENCE OF HEPATITIS B VIRUS (HBV) AND HEPATITIS C VIRUS (HCV) INFECTIONS AMONG HIV-INFECTED PATIENTS ATTENDING THE ANTIRETROVIRAL CLINIC AT THE JOS UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL (JUTH), JOS. NIGERIA

IAS Conf HIV Pathog Treat 2005 Jul 24-27;3rd: Abstract No. TuPe1.1C34

Agbaji O.¹, Badung B.¹, Idoko J.¹, Kanki P.^2
1AIDS Prevention Initiative in Nigeria, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos Plateau State, No 1 Murtala Mohammed Way, Jos, Plateau State Nigeria, Jos, Nigeria, ²Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, United States of America

INTRODUCTION: HIV positive individuals are at risk of co-infection with HBV and HCV infections. Tidaldi et al have reported HIV co-infection rates with HBV (9%) and HCV (30%) in western countries. We set out to determine the seroprevalence of HBV and HCV among the HIV- infected patients in our antiretroviral clinic to define the magnitude of these infections among our patients and plan appropriate strategies for monitoring and choice of antiretroviral drugs.

METHODS: A total of 1044 HIV- infected patients seen between the months of June 2004 and January 2005 at the JUTH, Jos antiretroviral clinic were screened for HBsAg and anti-HCV using Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique (ELISA) respectively, as part of the routine base line screening for enrollment into the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Programme, for which our centre is a beneficiary. The results obtained are presented below.

RESULTS: 1044 patients were screened, 683 females and 361 males, giving a female: male ratio of 2:1. The mean age was 38.1±8.37.The age group 25-49 had the highest prevalence for both HBsAg and anti-HCV. 155 (14.8%) patients were HBsAg positive, 89 (8.5%) females and 66 (6.3%) males.79 patients (7.6%) were positive for anti-HCV, 54 (5.2%) females and 25 (2.4%) males. 11 (1.1%) patients were HBsAg and anti-HCV positive. Eight (0.8%) and 3 (0.3%) were females and males respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of HBV and HCV were high among our HIV-infected patients. This has implications in a resource constrained setting like ours, where the available antiretroviral drugs with efficacy against HBV and HCV may either not be available or where available may not be affordable. Since HBV and HCV are important causes of morbidity and mortality in HIV-infected persons, screening for these chronic viral hepatitis infections should be made mandatory. Vaccination against HBV in those who are non-immune is also essential to prevent infection and subsequent complications.

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Clinical | TuPe1.1C34 | Oche Agbaji
Hepatitis viruses

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