Hepatitis Be Antigen (HBeAg) and Antibody (HBeAb) in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Seropositive Patients in Lagos, Nigeria.

Abstract

This preliminary study investigated the incidence of HBeAg and anti-HBe antibodies in the sera of HIV patients in Lagos, Nigeria, during the month of June, 2005. A total of 96 patients, aged 5-65 years who had positive HIV sera comprised the study population. The confirmation test was done at NIMR, Lagos. HIV sera were characterized by Enzyme Linked Immuno-sorbent Assay (ELISA) for HBeAg and HBeAb. Hepatitis Be antigen were present in the sera of seropositive HIV patients. In the studied group the incidence rate is low with the presence of antibodies in some cases. It is difficult to categorize those with antibodies as immune because their surface antigens were not known. Three samples were positive for the antigen, a male in the age group 11-20 and two females in the group 21-30. The presence of antibodies cut across the various age groups: 1 in 1-10, 2 in 21-30 group with each sex having one each; five females and two males in age groups 31-40; one male in age group 41-50; 1 female in age group 51-60. Age groups 1-10 and 61-70 have no positive antibodies in their sera. It is suggested that this preliminary study is practiable, but that it is only a pointer, and a rough guide to the incidence in Lagos.