Evidence of Hiv/HCV Coinfection Among People Living With Hiv/Aids Attending Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, Nigeria

Abstract

Coinfection of hepatitis C (HCV) may compromise antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Nigeria. In this study, we evaluated the seroprevalence of HIV/HCV coinfection in people living with HIV/AIDs (PLWHA) receiving ART and associated factors. Patients were selected from HIV-1-infected patients enrolled in National HAART Cohort at Federal Medical Centre in Yenagoa, Nigeria. Following the manufacturer's instructions, medical assessments and anti-HCV antibody serology were obtained for analysis with an ELISA kit (Dia. Pro). A total of 4 of 104 PLWHA tested were anti-HCV antibody positive (4.0%). HIV/HCV coinfections were higher in age groups >41 years (4.4%), males (7.0%), CD4 counts 350-499 cells (7.1%) and PVL >1000 copies/ml (10.0%). CD4 counts and viral load were an indicator for HIV/HCV coinfections. Socio-demographic variables were not associated (p > 0.05) with HIV/HCV coinfection in univariate analysis; older PLWHA were more likely to be HCV-positive. Males were more prone to HIV/HCV coinfection than females. HIV status did seem to influence the predisposition to HCV infection, as an increase in susceptibility was observed with HIV-infected patients in Yenagoa, Nigeria. The high prevalence of HIV/HCV coinfection in PLWHA in Yenagoa receiving ART demands routine screening for viral hepatitis coinfection, intensive prevention of childhood HCV transmission, and modification of the management of HIV infection.

Co-infection of Hepatitis C among HIV-infected patients: A cross-sectional study from A University Teaching hospital in Anambra State, Nigeria

“…In terms of the immunological marker data, the highest HIV/HCV prevalence rate was 4.8% among individuals who had CD4 counts above 350. This observation is consistent with previous findings where the study participants with HIV/HCV co-infection had higher CD4 count (350-499 cells//µl) (Okonko & Shaibu, 2023). Ngwogu et al (2018) had a similar report of a higher prevalence of HCV among the respondents with a CD4 count greater than 350 (CD4 > 350).…”

“…., 2021). It may have infected up to 2%-3% of the world's population, making it a severe threat to health on a global scale(Okonko & Shaibu, 2023).This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence rate of hepatitis C virus (HCV) among people living with HIV (PLWHIV). The number of study participants enrolled was 255 HIV patients.…”

Detection and Prevalence of Syphilis, Hepatitis C Virus andHelicobacter pyloriCo-Infection among Pregnant Women attending Primary Health Centre, Mbodo-Aluu, Rivers State, Nigeria

“…As much as hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a serious global health concern, with estimates putting its prevalence between 2.0% and 3.0% of the global population (Okonko & Shaibu, 2023), the present study indicated a 0.0% HCV prevalence. Our observation is consistent with Okonko et al (2014) and Cookey et al (2021) who also reported a 0.0% prevalence in their studies.…”

“…Our observation is consistent withOkonko et al (2014) andCookey et al (2021) who also reported a 0.0% prevalence in their studies. The 0.0% infection rate with HCV contradicts the 4.0% byOkonko and Shaibu (2023) in Yenogoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria andOketah et al (2024) in Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria; the 15.0% and 23.5% reported byOgbodo et al (2015) andOgwu-Richard et al (2015) in Nigeria. This 0.0% is also lower than the 0.5% in Lagos(Lawal et al, 2020), the 1.0% was recorded byAaron et al (2021) in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, the 0.5% in Anyigba(Omatola et al, 2019),…”

“…As much as hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a serious global health concern, with estimates putting its prevalence between 2.0% and 3.0% of the global population (Okonko & Shaibu, 2023) Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a gram-negative ubiquitous bacterium affecting over half of the world's population (Emerenini et al, 2021). The seroprevalence of H. pylori among pregnant women in this study was 31.0%, which was less than the total burden of 70.17% and 87.7% in Nigeria and Africa, respectively that Smith et al (2022a) reported.…”