HBsAg as the antigen component of circulating immune complexes in HIV-infected patients

Seeing the same transmission pattern of HIV and HBV coinfection by these tw o agents is not an uncommon feature. Immunity impairment due to HIV infecti on can be the cause of a higher rare of HBV replication with less intensive liver damage and less effective immune response to I-IBV, while the pathol ogical course in both infections involves elevated levels of circulating im mune complexes (CIC). These were the reasons for us to examine the frequenc y of HBsAg involvement as the antigen component of circulating immune compl exes formed in sera of HIV-infected patients in different stages of HIV dis ease. We tested 67 sera of HIV-positive patients in different stages of HIV disease fur the presence of HB sAg and HIV antigen p24 (with and without a cid dissociation of immune complexes), for the presence of anti-Hbc antibod ies and circulating immune complexes. HBsAg was positive in 13.8% sera prio r to and 33.8% after acid pretreatment. Anti-HBc antibodies were present in 76.9% serum samples tested. Fifty percent of sera were positive for both H BsAg and p24 antigen after dissociation of immune complexes. The level of C IC was elevated in 65.9% of sera. Our results suggest that HBsAg is commonl y associated in immune complexes formed in the sera of HIV-infected patient s and that they may simultaneously contain HIV and HBsAg in patients coinfe cted with both agents. This may contribute to their mutual interaction and influence the diagnosis and follow-up of patients. (C) 2000 Editions scient ifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.