TITLE:
Hepatitis E Virus Infection in HIV Positive ART Naive and Experienced Individuals in Nigeria
AUTHORS:
Georgina N. Odaibo, David O. Olaleye
KEYWORDS:
HEV Infection; HIV Positive; ART; Nigeria
JOURNAL NAME:
World Journal of AIDS,
Vol.3 No.3,
September
5,
2013
ABSTRACT: Background: Studies have shown Hepatitis E Virus
to be a causative agent
of acute and chronic hepatitis in severely immunocompromised patients such as organ transplant recipients and person
with HIV infection. This study was designed to determine the burden of HEV
infection among HIV positive individuals in Nigeria and the effect of HIV treatment
on the burden of HEV infection among this group of patients. Methods: Aliquot of
plasma samples collected for laboratory investigations such as CD4 enumeration,
blood chemistry (AST, ALT, Creatine, Urea) were used to determine the presence of HEV IgG and IgM antibodies using commercially
available ELISA. Samples
analysed in the study were
collected from 180 HIV positive individuals (90 ART naive and 90 ART
experienced) attending the ART clinic at the University College Hospital,
Ibadan, Nigeria. Results: Twenty two of the 180 (12.2%) samples were positive for either HEV IgG
(20/180) or IgM (2/180). The rate of HEV IgG was higher among ART naive
individuals and the two IgM positive persons were ART naive. There was no significant difference
in the mean CD4 count and mean ALT between HEV seronegative and seropositive
individuals (P = 0.8 and 0.2 respectively). Conclusions: The results of this study
suggest the need to test for HEV infection in HIV positive individuals for the early diagnosis and proper management
since HEV is known to be fulminant in the presence of underlying liver disease
that is common among HIV infected persons. In addition, the use of ART may reduce the incidence of
HEV infection in HIV positive persons.