Prevalence and immune status of HIV/HBV co-infected pregnant women

Abstract

HIV/HBV co-infection places patients at high risk of liver-related morbidity and mortality and the interaction of the two viruses can further complicate treatment. Pregnant women are especially at high risk for increased morbidity and mortality due to infection, and information about HIV/HBV co-infection in pregnant women is scanty. This study examined the occurrence of HBV antibodies in HIV-1 positive pregnant women and the relationship to Ante-retroviral therapy (ART) and other demographic characteristics. Blood samples were collected from 135 HIV pregnant positive women who were either on ART or Not, from May-June, 2008 at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) and the Plateau State Specialist Hospital (PSSH). Presence of hepatitis B surface (HBsAg) antigen in serum was determined using Antec strips (Antec diagnostics UK) and their immunologic status were determined by measuring the CD4 + counts using SL_3 cyFlow counter (Partec, Germany). Sixteen 16 (11.8%) of the women examined were seropositive for Hepatitis B virus. Occupation was significantly associated with the prevalence of the hepatitis co-infection in the population examined (8.8% of house wives and 5.5% of business women had co-infection, p<0.05). The immunologic status (CD4 + of most of the HIV/HBV co-infected pregnant women (81.5%) was low (below 300 cells/mm 3) although all were on Anti retroviral therapy. The 11.8% prevalence rate reported in this study confirms the endemicity of HBV /HIV co-infection in Nigeria, and this supports the calls for screening for Hepatitis B as a routine in antenatal care.

Prevalence and Burden of Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Hepatitis B Virus Co-infection in Nigeria: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…In light of this, we conducted a region based analysis of our data, the NW region of the country appeared to have the highest (41%) prevalence of HBV/ HIV co-infection. This finding is, however, constrained by the fact that only two studies were conducted in the region and both of them were from the same center and on similar participants, yet yielding a wide difference in HBV/HIV co-infection prevalence (12% [47] and 70.3% [37]). Otherwise, the other regions had prevalences close to the overall prevalence HBV/HIV co-infection we found in Nigeria.…”

“…Heterogeneity chi-squared was 1610.84 (d.f.=33) p=0.000, I-squared (variation in ES attributable to heterogeneity) was 98.0% and estimate of between-study variance Tau-squared was 0.0043. Ajayiet al [22] Adeshina et al [23] Adewole et al [24] Adoga et al [25] Eke et al [26] Ajayi et al [27] Ashir et al [28] Balogun et al [29] Buseri [30] Diwe et al [31] Ejele et al [32] Nwolisa et al [33] Anigilaje et al [34] Idoko et al [35] Ladep et al [36] Lar et al [37] Mustapha et al [38] Nwokedi et al [39] Okocha et al [40] Oronsaye et al [41] Otegbayo [42] Tremeau-Bravard et al [43] Uneke et al [44] AkyalaIshaku et al [45] Bello et al [46] Denue et al [47] Ekanem et al [48] Hamza et al [49] Opara-Morrison et al [50] Omonkhelin et al [51] Frank -Petersideet al [52] Sadoh et al [53] Okeke et al [54] Odunukwe et al The REM estimate of prevalence among HIV-infected patients from 33 studies was 15% (95% CI 13-17%) (Figure 3). There was a publication bias in Egger's, and Begg's testing (Begg's test, p=0.003; Egger's test, p=0.000).…”

Sero-prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus–hepatitis B virus (HIV–HBV) co-infection among pregnant women attending antenatal care (ANC) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and the associated risk factors: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Whereas in most SSA countries HIV is routinely tested for in pregnant women attending antenatal care (ANC), HBsAg screening in the same cohort is not routine despite their overlapping routes of transmission [ 18 – 20 ]. This has hampered the design of interventions to mitigate the effect of HBV–HIV co-infection in pregnancy since the epidemiological data on the HBV–HIV co-infection among pregnant woman in SSA is scanty [ 21 ].…”

Determination of CD4 T-Cells Counts In HIV/HBV/HCV Co-Infected Pregnant Women on Haart in Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria

“…However, pregnant women co-infected with HIV-HBV has mean CD4 count of 361cells/µl, but statistically, there was no association between HIV-HBV co-infection and the immune status of the women (p>0.05). Compared with the study carried out in Jos, Lar and his colleagues reported a CD4 count of 300cells/mm 3 and below, among pregnant women co-infected with HIV-HBV (Lar et al, 2013). When the mean CD4 count of HIV mono-infected (419cells/µl) is compared with the HIV-HBV co-infected (361cells/µl) study participants, there was decrease in the mean CD4 count of HIV-HBV co-infected pregnant women.…”