Hepatitis B viral replication markers and hepatic fibrosis in untreated chronic hepatitis B viurs infection with and without HIV coinfection in Zambia.

BACKGROUND To inform novel therapies, a more nuanced understanding of HIV's impact on hepatitis B virus (HBV) natural history is needed, particularly in high burden countries. METHODS In Lusaka, Zambia, we compared prospectively-recruited adults (18+ years) with chronic HBV infection, with and without HIV, pre-therapy. We excluded those with treatment-experience or HBV diagnosis due to clinical suspicion. We assessed HBV DNA levels, hepatitis B e antigen, CD4 (if coinfection), and liver disease (transient elastography [TE], serum alanine aminotransferase). In multivariable analyses, we evaluated the association of HIV overall and by level of CD4 count on these markers. RESULTS Among 713 adults analyzed, median age was 33 years, 63.0% were male, and 433 had HBV/HIV coinfection. Median CD4 count was 200 cells/mm3. HBV DNA was >2,000 IU/ml for 311 (51.0%) and 227 (32.5%) were HBeAg-positive. 15.5% had advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis. HIV coinfection was associated with 5-fold increased HBV DNA levels (adjusted geometric mean ratio, 5.78; 95% confidence interval, 2.29-14.62) and 2 times the odds of HBeAg-positivity (adjusted odds ratio, 2.54; 95% CI, 1.59-4.08). These associations were significant only at CD4 counts 100-350 and