Screening of hepatitis B virus infection among HIV-infected patients receiving antiretroviral therapy.

A cross-sectional study was conducted among HIV-infected patients in a university hospital to assess the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and the effect of antiretroviral therapy (ART) on the results of screening for HBV infection. There were 403 patients with a mean age of 42.3 years and 60.3 percent were male. Median (IQR) CD4 cell count was 395 (277-555) cells/mm3. HBV co-infection was observed in 33 (8.2%) patients. Prevalence of HBV co-infection was 6.1 percent in patients receiving ART at screening and 11.4 percent in patients without ART at screening. In multivariate analysis, the previous AST level prior to the initiation of ART [odd ratio (OR) 1.020; 95 percent confidence interval (CI), 1.007-1.034; p = 0.003] and undetectable HIV RNA at screening [OR 0.243; 95% CI, 0.068-0.870; p=0.030] were significantly associated with the results of screening for HBV co-infection. Liver function test results at screening were not associated with HBV co-infection. Screening for HBV co-infection in HIV-infected patients should not be omitted and should be performed prior to the initiation of ART. (J Infect Dis Antimicrob Agents 2010;27:69-75.) Note: The abstract of this study was presented in the 12th European AIDS Conferences, Cologne, Germany, 2009. Abstract 13.1/3. 1Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand. 2Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand. Received for publication: June 2, 2010. Reprint request: Somnuek Sungkanuparph, M.D., Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, 270 Rama 6 Road, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand. Email: rasuy@mahidol.ac.th