Hepatitis B virus prevalence, immunization and immune response in people living with HIV/AIDS in Istanbul, Turkey: a 21-year data analysis

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to determine Hepatitis B virus (HBV) prevalence, immune status, and the prevalence of antibody response in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in Istanbul, Turkey. METHODS: The study includes PLWHA aged 18 years and older who were followed-up for at least 6 months from 1997 to 2018. RESULTS: Of the 653 patients with PLWHA, 99 (15.2%) were both antiHBc-IgG and antiHBs positive, 120 (18.3%) were antiHBc-IgG positive/antiHBs negative. HBsAg was positive in 40 (6.1%) patients. HBsAg positive coinfection (≤40 years 4.6% vs. >40 years 21.7%, p<0.001) and antiHBc-IgG positivity/antiHBs negativity (≤40 years 14.0% vs. >40 years 26.5, p<0.001) were higher in PLWHA older than 40 years. The prevalence of HIV/HBV coinfection reached a peak level of 22.2% in 2004, and it decreased to 3.3% in 2018. The prevalence of immunization before HIV diagnosis was low (15.6%). The prevalence of antibody response (anti-HBs>10 IU/L) after immunization for HBV was 50%. A higher protective response was associated with CD4+≥350 cell/mm3 (59.3%, p=0.014). CONCLUSION: HBV coexistence in PLWHA remains an imperatively important problem. The most conclusive methods in solving this problem are to prevent transmission by immunization and control measures. Also, HBV screening should in no manner be neglected in PLWHA.