Liver fibrosis in treatment-naive HIV-infected and HIV/HBV co-infected patients: Zambia and Switzerland compared.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To examine the association between hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and liver fibrosis in HIV-infected patients in Zambia and Switzerland.

Methods

HIV-infected adults starting antiretroviral therapy in two clinics in Zambia and Switzerland were included. Liver fibrosis was evaluated using the aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet-ratio index (APRI), with a ratio >1.5 defining significant fibrosis and a ratio >2.0 indicating cirrhosis. The association between hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positivity, HBV replication, and liver fibrosis was examined using logistic regression.

Results

In Zambia, 96 (13.0%) of 739 patients were HBsAg-positive compared to 93 (4.5%) of 2058 in Switzerland. HBsAg-positive patients were more likely to have significant liver

SUBMITTER: Wandeler G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5363287 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature