Hepatitis B and C virus infections and liver function in AIDS patients at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, Johanneburg

Background: Impaired liver function tests and co-infection with hepatitis v iruses in AIDS patients are common in western countries. Objective: To assess liver function and prevalence of co-infection with hep atitis B and hepatitis C viruses in AIDS patients at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital. Design: A prospective study. Setting: Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa. Patients: One hundred consecutive patients with AIDS admitted to Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital. Results: There were 52 males and 48 females aged 16 to 54 years (mean + SD: 34.6 + 7.5 years). The results of laboratory test were as follows: LFTs: b ilirubin 11.8 (+15.6) mu mol/1; AST: 79.6 (+/-116.6) iu/L; alkaline phospha tase: 204.3 (+/-237.4) i mu/L; albumin: 23.9 (+/-6.2) g/l; CD4+ lymphocytes : 141.5 (+/-168.6) mu l; CD8+: 666.9 (+/-618.3) mu l; HBV- HbsAg: 6 (6%); H bsAg + eAg: 3 (3%); previous disease (Anti HBs and/or anti HBc): 35%, HCV: 1(1%). Conclusion: Liver function tests were impaired in the majority of patients with AIDS (93 %) in our setting. Evidence of previous and present HBV infec tion was present in 41%, This is different from what is observed in western countries (90-95%), The results also suggest that patients here acquired H BV infection while still immune competent. HCV infection was rare.