Hepatitis B and HIV — A Tale of Two Viruses

In HIV-infected women with isolated antibody to hepatitis B core antigen, use of ART was associated with acquisition of antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen.

A recommended part of HIV patient care is screening for the presence of viral hepatitis, including hepatitis B. In HIV-infected persons, such screening commonly reveals the presence of antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) without either hepatitis B surface antigen or antibody to that antigen (anti-HBs). The clinical significance of isolated anti-HBc is uncertain, and management thus remains unclear. To learn more about the natural history of this phenomenon, investigators with the Women’s Interagency HIV Study tested serum samples from women who had isolated anti-HBc at enrollment and whose follow-up exceeded 2.5 years.

Overall, 493 (13%) of 3766 study participants had isolated anti-HBc at baseline. Among these women, 322 (282 HIV…

Reviewing Author

Charles B. Hicks, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardGilead Sciences; ViiV; Merck

RoyaltiesUpToDate, Inc.

Grant / Research supportNIH; Department of Health and Human Services

Charles B. Hicks, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardGilead Sciences; ViiV; Merck

RoyaltiesUpToDate, Inc.

Grant / Research supportNIH; Department of Health and Human Services

Hepatitis B and HIV — A Tale of Two Viruses

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Reviewing Author