https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32476120/ Hepatitis

West Afr J Med. Jul-Aug 2020;37(3):260-267.

HIV Co-Infection with Hepatitis B and C and Liver Function in Children and Adolescents on Antiretroviral Therapy in a Tertiary Health Institution in Abuja

A A Okechukwu 1, Y Thairu 2, M S Dalili 3
PMID: 32476120

Abstract

Background: HIV has direct and indirect effects on the liver, just as hepatitis B and C viral infections are both hepatotropic viruses. Co-infection is an emerging clinical problem among HIV infected individuals, therefore its prevalence and impact on hepatic functions in children requires evaluation.
Methods: A cross sectional hospital-based study was conducted among HIV infected children and adolescents aged 2 months to 18 years on antiretroviral therapy at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital from October 2017 to March 2018. Determination of hepatitis B surface antigen, antibody to hepatitis C, liver function tests and liver sizes were carried out on the children.

Results: Of a total of 153 subjects recruited, 89(58.2%) were males, 69 (45.1%) were adolescents and 117(76.5%) from lower socio-economic class. Hundred and forty (91.5%) subjects were mono-infected, 7(4.6%) had co-infection with HBsAg, 1(0.7%) had HBsAg/HBeAg, 6(3.9%) had HCV, while none had triple infection. No under-five had co-infection with HBV and no variable had significant association with HBV coinfection. There was however significant association of HCV co-infection with age (p=0.00), blood transfusion (p=0.03), and religion (p=0.01) and all the infected were less than 10 years. The mean values for alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, liver sizes of the mono and co-infected were all within normal and none had severe or life threatening hepatotoxicity.

Conclusion: The prevalence and impact of HIV co-infection on liver function in this study was low. Use of liver biopsy, the gold standard for assessing disease severity in liver conditions may also be required for in-depth assessment.