Seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus co-infection among HIV-1-positive patients in North-Central Nigeria: The urgent need for surveillance

Afr J Lab Med. 2019 Jun 27;8(1):622. doi: 10.4102/ajlm.v8i1.622. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

We report the seroprevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen among HIV-positive patients at a clinic in North-Central Nigeria. Screening for hepatitis B virus was based on serological markers. Alanine aminotransferase levels and CD4+ T-lymphocyte counts were compared between patients. The study showed that 9.2% were positive for hepatitis B surface antigen with significant differences between alanine aminotransferase levels of patients with and without hepatitis B virus. We recommend a national surveillance system to monitor control efforts.

Keywords: Alanine aminotransferase; Antiretroviral therapy; CD4+ T-lymphocytes; HIV; Serological markers; hepatitis B virus.