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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
immunology and microbiology
Seroprevalence of hepatitis B and C viruses among HIV-infected pregnant women in Uganda and Rwanda
Journal of Medical Virology, Volume 79, No. 12, Year 2007
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Description
A retrospective survey to estimate the prevalence of hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) infections was conducted on the samples of 247 African HIV-1 positive pregnant women who had participated to a mother-to-child prevention trial carried out in urban settings in Kampala, Uganda and Kigali, Rwanda. Hepatitis B markers studied were HBs antigen (HBsAg) and, if positive after confirmatory testing, HBe antigen/anti-HBe antibodies and HBV DNA. A fourth generation HCV enzyme immunoassay (EIA) was used for primary HCV screening. Positive samples were analyzed further with a second different EIA. Both for HBV and for HCV the use of confirmatory tests allowed the removal of frequent false-positive screening results. HBsAg was found in 10/246 women (seroprevalence 4.1%, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) 1.7-6.8): 8/164 (4.9%) in Uganda and 2/82 (2.4%) in Rwanda. HBe Ag was found in 33% of HBsAg-positive patients and HBV DNA was quantifiable in 71%. Anti-HCV antibodies were found in 5/247 women (seroprevalence 2.0% 95%CI 0.3-3.9): 1/165 (0.6%) in Uganda and 4/82 (4.9%) in Rwanda. There was no interrelation between HCV and HBV markers. There was no difference between patients with and without co-infection with HBV or HCV with regards to CD4+ cell count. Overall, hepatitis B and C co-infection was relatively infrequent in this group of pregnant women. However, since approximately 6% of HIV-positive women in these countries had a co-infection with one hepatitis virus, caution should be used in the monitoring of possible hepatotoxicity related to antiretroviral drugs in these populations. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Authors & Co-Authors
Pirillo, Maria Franca
Italy, Rome
Istituto Superiore Di Sanita
Bassani, Luciana
Italy, Rome
Istituto Superiore Di Sanita
Germinario, Elena Angela Pia
Italy, Rome
Istituto Superiore Di Sanita
Mancini, Maria Grazia
Italy, Rome
Istituto Superiore Di Sanita
Vyankandondera, Joseph
Rwanda, Kigali
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Kigali
Okong, P.
Uganda, Kampala
St. Francis Hospital Uganda
Vella, Stefano
Italy, Rome
Istituto Superiore Di Sanita
Giuliano, Marina
Italy, Rome
Istituto Superiore Di Sanita
Statistics
Citations: 89
Authors: 8
Affiliations: 3
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1002/jmv.21007
ISSN:
01466615
e-ISSN:
10969071
Research Areas
Genetics And Genomics
Infectious Diseases
Maternal And Child Health
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Cohort Study
Study Approach
Quantitative
Study Locations
Rwanda
Uganda
Participants Gender
Female