Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B Virus Infection among Pregnant Women at the Antenatal Booking Clinic of a Tertiary Hospital in Lagos Nigeria

Objectives: The objectives were to determine the seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and assess the major risk factors among Nigerian pregnant women.Subjects and Methods: This was a cross‑sectional descriptive study carried out among pregnant women at the antenatal clinic of a Tertiary Hospital in Lagos, Nigeria. A total number of 150 consenting pregnant women were selected for the study. A structured pretested interviewer‑administered questionnaire was used for the data collection. Sera were collected and tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg).Results: Of the150 women screened during the study, 11 (7.3%) were seropositive for HBsAg. Of these 11 women, 4 (36.4%) were also positive for HBeAg. There was no statistically significant difference in the mean ages of participants who were seropositive for HBsAg and those who were negative for the virus (P = 0.888). There were statistically significant differences in the seroprevalence of HBsAg recorded among respondents with previous surgery (odd ratio [OR] ‑ 2.97; 95% confidence interval [CI] ‑ 1.08‑16.67; P = 0.046), previously affected sibling or spouse (OR ‑ 5.03; 95% CI ‑ 1.11–25.27; P = 0.001) and those with two or more lifetime sexual partners (OR ‑ 4.11; 95% CI ‑ 2.85–9.22; P = 0.024).Conclusion: The sero‑prevalence rate of HBV infection and also its infectivity is high in Lagos, Nigeria. These findings thus support the need for a nationwide policy of routine and widespread HBV screening among pregnant women.Keywords: Hepatitis B Surface Antigen, Hepatitis B Virus, Infectivity, Lagos, Nigeria, Seroprevalenc

Interleukin-8 A Marker of Disease Progression and Therapeutic Response in HIV Infection

IL-8 has been implicated in the pathogenesis of HIV infection. Plasma level of IL-8 was determined in HIV infected subjects at the Lagos university Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria. These are subjects on anti-retroviral treatment, freshly diagnosed treatment naïve HIV positive individuals, and non-HIV infected controls subjects. This study was conducted to determine the plasma level of interleukin-8 in HIV infected treatment naïve individuals, and individuals who are already on treatment, and compare the outcome with that obtained from HIV negative individuals. The study also compared the distribution of plasma interleukin-8 against variables such as CD4 count, viral load count,white blood cell count (WBC) and Haemoglobin concentration of the subjects. Plasma samples were collected and analyzed for interleukin-8 concentration using Elisa assay method. The optical density was converted to estimates using logarithm graph. The data collated were analyzed using EPI Info version 3.5.3 and SPSS version 17. Significance of differences between groups were determined using the Student's t-test and Chi test. Probability values of (P<0.05) were interpreted as significant. The mean IL-8 concentration was 48.02±6.24, 27.26±0.55, 4.06±2.82 (pg/ml)respectively for the naïve, on treatment and control groups. Showing a 12 fold increase in plasma IL-8 level between subjects and HIV negative control, CD4 and Viral load of the subject were also significantly associated with serum interleukin-8 concentration as immunossupression (CD4 count <200 cells/ul) was associated with higher serum levels of IL-8( 56% of subjects with CD4 <200cells/ul, had IL-8 values >8pg/ml and 73% of subjects with IL-8 levels >8pg/ml where those having CD4 values above 200cells/ul; p=0.00 respectively). Measurement of Interleukin-8 (IL-8) profiles in patients infected with HIV will provide a useful guide for treatment response and useful indicator of disease prognosis.SummaryKey words: Interleukin 8, HIV infection,Errata: This paper was Published in vol. 13, No 1-2 of January-February 2014 edition, but had to be republished in this edition to correct few minor oversight spotted out in the first publication