Assessment of Biomarkers in Patients Co-Infected with HIV/HBV Attending the Antiretroviral Clinic in a Tertiary Institution

Aim: The level of some biomarkers such as the Lipid profiles and some liver enzymes were checked for in patients who were found to be co infected with HIV/HBV Study Design: The study was conducted among patients infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus attending the antiretroviral clinic at the Braith Waite memorial hospital, Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The samples and relevant data were gotten between the months of January and March 2019, using a structured questionnaire Methodology: The Samples were collected from patients infected with HIV attending the Braith Waite memorial hospital on antiretroviral medication. A total number of 98 samples were collected and analyzed for the presence of HBV IgM core antibody using the ELISA method. The statistical analysis was done using a Stata version 16 and the student T-test was used to determine the P value. A total of 98 samples were collected, 66(67.3%) were females and 32(32.6%) of them were males. Of the 98 samples, 5 (5.1%) of them were positive to HIV/HBV co infection of which 3(3.1%) were females and 2(2%) were males. The age range for those co infected was between 29 – 34 years old. The lipid profile and liver enzymes for the positive samples were analyzed. The result showed an increase in the level of LDL, HDL and triglyceride. The analysis for the liver enzymes showed an increase in the level of AST and ALP while the ALT and GGT remained within the healthy range.  The increase in the level of most of the biomarkers, showed that the patients co infected with HIV/HBV were at risk of heart and kidney diseases since they are already immunocompromised. From this result, it shows that patients who are HIV positive should undergo HBV test regularly. Those who are positive should have their biomarkers monitored and put under medication early.