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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
immunology and microbiology
Increased detection of HBV DNA in HBsAg-positive and HBsAg-negative South African HIV/AIDS patients enrolling for highly active antiretroviral therapy at a tertiary hospital
Journal of Medical Virology, Volume 81, No. 3, Year 2009
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Description
This retrospective study investigated the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in 192 stored sera from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive South African patients initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART), and explored the implications of HBV-HIV co-infection on laboratory diagnosis of HBV. HBV serology (HBsAg, anti-HBs and anti-HBc) and nested HBV PCR assayss targeting the HBV polymerase gene were performed, with HBV DNA positive samples being quantified with Cobas Taqman HBV test 48 assay (Roche Diagnostics). The study found that 63% (121/192) of patients had past or present HBV infection, and 40.6% (78/192) had detectable HBV DNA. Also, 22.9% (44/192) of patients were HBsAg positive and HBV DNA positive, while 23% (34/ 148) of HBsAG negatives had occult HBV infections. Of the 78 HBV DNA positive samples, 62.8% had viral loads ranging from 102 to ≥108 IU/ml, and 37.2% had HBV viral loads <200 IU/ml. There was a statistically significant positive association between HBsAg-positivity and high viral loads, with 27% (12/44) of HBsAg positives having HBV viral loads between 104 and ≥10 8 IU/ml, compared to only 5.9% (2/34) of HBsAg negatives (relative risk: 4.64; 95% confidence interval: 1.11, 19.35; chi-square P-value=0.015). The study shows that the majority of HIV/AIDS patients initiating ART have either acute or chronic HBV infections, and further confirms that HIV remains a risk factor for occult HBV infections in South African patients as previously shown. The findings strongly support HBV screening in all HIV-positive patients initiating ART in South Africa, considering that current ART regimens include drugs with anti-HBV activity (e.g., lamivudine). © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Authors & Co-Authors
Lukhwareni, Azwidowi
South Africa, Sovenga
University of Limpopo
Burnett, Rosemary J.
South Africa, Sovenga
University of Limpopo
Selabe, Selokela Gloria
South Africa, Sovenga
University of Limpopo
Mzileni, M.
South Africa, Sovenga
University of Limpopo
Mphahlele, M. Jeffrey
South Africa, Sovenga
University of Limpopo
Statistics
Citations: 103
Authors: 5
Affiliations: 1
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1002/jmv.21418
ISSN:
01466615
e-ISSN:
10969071
Research Areas
Genetics And Genomics
Health System And Policy
Infectious Diseases
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Cohort Study
Study Locations
South Africa