Effects of HBV And HCV On CD4+ T-Lymphocytes Count and Two Liver Enzymes of HIV-Infected Patients in Orlu, Imo State, Nigeria

Co-infection of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C virus (HCV) are very prevalent and the primary cause for morbidity and mortality among patients with Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The aim of the study was to assess the effect of HBV and HCV on CD4+ count and two liver enzymes; Aspartate transaminase (AST) and Alanine transaminase (ALT), among HIV-infected patients. The study was a hospital based cross-sectional study conducted at the anti-retroviral therapy (ART) clinics in Orlu, Imo State, Nigeria. Whole blood samples were collected from 720 patients and serologically analyzed for HBsAg and Anti-HCV using test strips. The samples were also analyzed for the CD4+ count using Cyflow conting system, and two liver enzymes (AST and ALT) using an auto-chemistry analyzer (Cobas C111). Data were entered and analyzed by SPSS version 29 and p-value less than 0.05 was taken as significant. Of the 720 patients, 514 (71.4%) were females and 206 (28.6%) were males. The overall prevalence of HIV/HBV, HIV/HCV, HIV/HBV/HCV, and HIV alone were 332 (46.1%), 82 (11.4%), 105 (14.6%), and 201 (27.9%), respectively. Generally, HIV patients co-infected with HBV and/or HCV had lower mean CD4+ count, AST, and ALT compared to those with HIV alone, but only that of those co-infected with both HBV and HCV were statistically significant (p 0.05). In conclusion, HBV and HCV co-infected HIV patients are more likely to have a lower CD4+ counts, liver enzyme levels (AST and ALT) than mono-infected HIV patients, highlighting the detrimental impact of these coinfections on immune functions as well as the crucial role of hormonal factors and health-seeking behaviors on the clinical outcomes of liver enzymes among the co-infected patients.