An evaluation of hepatitis B virus diagnostic methods and responses to antiretroviral therapy among HIV-infected women in Thailand
Peters, P.James.; McNicholl, J.M.; Raengsakulrach, B.; Wasinrapee, P.; Mueanpai, F.; Ratanasuwan, W.; Intalapaporn, P.; Drobeniuc, J.; Ramachandran, S.; Thai, H.; Xia, G-Liang.; Kamili, S.; Khudyakov, Y.; Weidle, P.J.; Teo, C.Gee.; McConnell, M.S.
Journal of the International Association of Providers of Aids Care 12(5): 349-353
2013
ISSN/ISBN: 2325-9574 PMID: 23792710 DOI: 10.1177/2325957413488201Document Number: 578484
Coinfection with HIV and hepatitis B virus (HBV) is common in resource-limited settings but is frequently not diagnosed. The authors retrospectively tested specimens for HBV in HIV-infected Thai women who had participated in an antiretroviral therapy (ART) clinical study. A substantial proportion (27 of 211; 13%) of HIV-infected women were HBV coinfected. Among HIV/HBV-coinfected women, the authors observed similar rates of antiretroviral-associated liver toxicity (despite nevirapine [NVP] use) and CD4 count reconstitution as observed in HIV-monoinfected women. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) screening detected the majority (81%) of HBV coinfections, including all 5 HBV-coinfected women who did not suppress HBV despite 48 weeks of lamivudine (3TC)-containing ART and could be used to tailor ART for patients diagnosed with HBV coinfection in accordance with World Health Organization guidelines. Although HBsAg screening did not diagnose 5 occult HBV coinfections, these women achieved HBV suppression on 3TC-containing ART, suggesting that not detecting occult HBV coinfection would have limited clinical impact.