Expression of anti-HBe in HBeAg and HIVp24 seropositive patients and its relation to antibodies against HIV-specific proteins in Warri, Nigeria

Co-infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) poses significant clinical challenges, particularly in high-prevalence regions. The presence of anti-HBe antibodies can offer insights into immune responses and disease progression in co-infected patients.

This study aims to investigate the prevalence and clinical significance of anti-HBe antibodies in HBV and HIV co-infected patients in Warri, Nigeria, while analyzing their relationship with HIV-specific antibody profiles.

A cross-sectional study involving 200 HBeAg and HIVp24 seropositive patients was conducted. Blood samples were analyzed for anti-HBe using ELISA, alongside assessments for HBeAg and HIVp24. HIV-specific antibodies were detected using Western blot. Data were analyzed using chi-square tests and logistic regression models (IBM SPSS 23.0).

The study enrolled 200 patients with dual seropositivity for HBeAg and HIVp24. Among these, 150 patients had confirmed HBeAg positivity, of whom 68 (45%) tested positive for anti-HBe. This presence was significantly associated with HIVp24 positivity (p = 0.04). Anti-HBe levels positively correlated with HIV-specific antibodies, with higher mean anti-HBe expression in patients with antibodies to gp120 (1.8 ± 0.4 AU/mL) and gp41 (1.7 ± 0.3 AU/mL). The odds ratio for anti-HBe presence with HIV-specific antibodies was 2.3 (95% CI: 1.5–3.5, p = 0.008).

The findings indicate a prevalent presence of anti-HBe antibodies among HBeAg-positive HIV co-infected patients, highlighting significant correlations with HIV-specific antibodies. This underscores the complex immune interactions between HBV and HIV, emphasizing the need for integrated management strategies and the potential role of anti-HBe as a marker for disease progression.