Comparing Serological Markers of Hepatitis B Virus Infection among People Living with HIV/AIDS and HIV Seronegative Individuals

Background: HIV has a negative effect on the course/progression of Hepatitis B infection making chronicity more likely in acute infections, with increased risk of cirrhosis, Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) and decompensated liver disease in chronic infections. Objective: The study was conducted to show the prevalence of Hepatitis B infection in HIV positive individuals compared to HIV negative individuals. Methods: Two hundred subjects consisting of 100 HIV infected individuals and 100 HIV negative healthy controls were recruited. Serological markers of Hepatitis B infection (HBsAg, HBeAg, Anti-HBe, Anti-HBc and Anti-HBs) using a rapid immunoassay test kit (ACON) were tested for in all of them. Results: Fifteen (15%) of the HIV infected cases compared to 10% of the healthy controls were positive for HBsAg (P =0.393). HBeAg was positive in 10% of the cases and 4% of the controls (P = 0.164). Anti-HBs positivity was found in 8%of the HIV infected cases while 25% of the healthy controls were positive (P = 0.002). Twenty-two (22%) of the HIV infected cases were positive for Anti-HBe compared to 56%of the healthy controls ( P = 0.000) . Anti-HBc was positive in 82%of the cases and73% of the healthy controls (P = 0.175). Conclusion: HIV infected persons are less likely to clear HBV infection and develop natural immunity to it compared to the HIV negative controls. The very high level of Anti-HBc seen in both groups showed Nigeria is a highly endemic society for hepatitis B infection.