Some Laboratory Features of HIV Infected Nigerian Children Co-Infected with Hepatitis B and C

Abstract

Background And Aims: Few studies on HIV coinfection with hepatitis B and C have been conducted in children especially in low resource settings. These coinfections have been shown to be associated with lower CD4 counts and high alanine transaminase in adults. In children conflicting results from different geographic areas exist. This study evaluates these parameters in coinfected Nigerian children.
Method: Some 155 HIV infected children were screened for HBsAg, antiHbC and anti HCV. Those who were positive for HBsAg and antiHBc were also screened for HBeAg. Any child who was positive for any of the serologic parameters had alanine transaminase estimation.
Result: Overall prevalence of HIV coinfection with hepatitis B and C was 12.9% (HBV 7.8% and HCV 5.2%). Of the 12 children positive for HBsAg 4(33%) were HBeAg positive while 3(25%) also had anti HBc. Of the remaining HBsAg negative children 8 were positive for antiHBc of which 2 had HBeAg. A total of 6 children were thus positive for HBeAg. The mean CD4 % for the HIV monoinfected and coinfected children were not significantly different (22.05±10.44 vs 18.13±7.41)p=0.11. The CD4 count of monoinfected children (957.14±652.42) was not significantly different from that of coinfected children (959.40±698.49)p=0.99. The mean alanine transaminase level was within normal in 82.1% of the coinfected children.
Conclusion: No significant difference in CD4 counts and percentage was found between HIV mono and coinfected children. A significant proportion of HIV infected children were coinfected with either HBV or HCV thus there is need for HIV infected children to be screened for hepatitis B and C. Screening for HBV may require more than testing for only HBsAg as HBV infection may be present in the setting of negative HBsAg.

Keywords: Laboratory features, HIV, HBV, HCV, coinfections

Erratum: The name of the co-author, N.J Idoriyekemwen, was inadvertently omitted from ABS Vol. 11, No. 1, January 2012. Thus the Editorial Board has deemed it proper to reproduce the Title Page. Our apology to the author for the inconvenience.