HBV transcription and translation persist despite viral suppression in HBV-HIV co-infected patients on antiretroviral therapy.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Liver injury may persist in patients with HBV receiving antiviral therapy who have ongoing transcription and translation. We sought to assess ongoing HBV transcription by serum HBV RNA, translation by serum hepatitis B core related antigen (HBcrAg), and their associations with hepatic HBsAg and HBcAg staining in patients coinfected with HBV and HIV.

Methods

This is a cross-sectional study of 110 adults coinfected with HBV and HIV who underwent clinical assessment and liver biopsy. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed for HBsAg and HBcAg. Viral biomarkers included quantitative HBsAg, HBV RNA, and HBcrAg.

Results

Participants' median age was 49 years (male, 93%; Black, 51%; HBeAg+, 65%), with suppressed HBV DNA (79%) and undetectable HIV RNA (77%

SUBMITTER: Lisker-Melman M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9800637 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature