Liver function in a cohort of young HIV-HBV co-infected patients on long-term combined antiretroviral therapy

Abstract

HIV-HBV co-infection was previously studied in patients older than 40 years of age, with added risk factors for liver disease. Data on progression of liver damage in young, co-infected patients, without associated comorbidities is sparse. We assessed the prevalence and stage of HBV co-infection in young individuals with parenterally acquired HIV infection and multiple previous antiretroviral (ART) treatments. Out of 227 patients (median age: 24 years, median duration of HIV infection: 23.9 years, median ART duration: 11.6 years), 61.7% had any markers of HBV infection, 53.6% were chronic HBsAg carriers, 9.3% had HBeAg present, 11.4% had high-levels of HBV DNA and 1.4% had severe liver fibrosis according to FIB-4 noninvasive score. HBV co-infected patients had longer ART exposure (147.07 vs. 121.3 months, p = 0.003) than those with HIVin the absence of HBV, with no significant differences in the use or duration of HIV-HBV dually-active antiretrovirals (lamivudine, tenofovir). Young HIV-HBV co-infected patients remain free of hepatic disease under ART.