Prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus among HIV Patients in Ikole Ekiti, Nigeria

Background: Co-infection of HIV–positive patients with hepatitis C viruses worsens the long term diagnosis and causes of the liver related diseases in almost three –quarters of the HIV infected individuals.

Aim: This research was carried out to know the sero-epidemiology of HCV among HIV infected individuals in Ikole Ekiti South West Nigeria.

Place and Duration of the Study: The clinical data and samples were collected in Specialist Hospital, Ikole Ekiti, Nigeria between November, 2012 and April, 2013 and processed in Medical Microbiology Department, LAUTECH, Nigeria.

Methodology: A total of 158 HIV–infected patients comprising 40 males and 118 females with age range from 3-82 years participated in this study. The test was performed using anti HCV cassette (Clinotech) and later confirmed with Enzyme link immunosorbent Assay.

Results: Four (2.53%) out of 158 HIV infected patients had antibodies to HCV. Co-infection of hepatitis C is more in female 3(1.90%) than male 1(0.63%) subjects. Statistical analysis showed no significant difference (p>0.05).Age group 31-40 years had the highest prevalence of HCV (50%) followed by age group 21-30 years (25%), 41-50 years (25%). There was no HIV-HCV coinfection among age group>50 years and <20 years. No significant difference was observed in association between age and prevalence of HCV antibodies (p>0.05).

Conclusion: Routine screening of patients with HIV infection for HCV antibodies should be encouraged for early diagnosis since research had shown that HIV-HCV co- infection can result: in higher levels of HCV in the blood, quick progression to HCV-related liver such cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.