Title : Seroprevalence of HBV/HCV-HIV, immune response and associated risk factors during anti-retroviral therapy in HIV patients and hepatitis B or C virus co-infection
Abstract:
Hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) are two among other forms of infections for which co-infection in HIV has been associated with alteration of the immune response, increased risk of progression to liver diseases and increased risk of hepatotoxicity associated to antiretroviral therapy. This study was aim to establish the prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis C antibody (HCVAb) among HIV patients, treatment outcomes and possible risk factors in Kumba Health, in the South West Region of Cameroon.
We performed a systematic screening using Rapid Diagnostic Test, for HBsAg and HCVAb among 299 HIV patients enrolled at the treatment centers in Kumba Health District with all positives for HBV or HCV confirmed by the ELISA and results analyzed using SPSS version 20. Out of the 299 participants, 36 (12.0%) were positive for HBV and 12 (4%) for HCV by both RDT and ELISA, out of which 52 HIV patients, 36 HIV/HBV and 12 HIV/HCV patients were involved in the prospective cohort study for 24 months which permitted monitored the immune response (CD4 counts and viral load test), as well as variation of biochemical parameters (ALAT/ASAT, albumin, bilirubine, creatinine) and weights of the studied participants. There were positive variations in all the biomarkers and immune response measurement which differed among the different groups and so this result could be used for health decisions regarding co-infecteds.
Keywords: HIV, HBV and HCV, co-infection, prevalence, risk factors, immune response, Kumba Health District.
