Seroprevalance of <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> amongst anti retroviral naive HIV infected persons in Benin City, Nigeria

Abstract

Background and objectives: HIV Infection at any stage alters patients’ immunity. The pattern of several diseases including incidence and prevalence has changed due to the HIV pandemic. Infections, infestations and malignancies present more frequently and often in an unusual pattern. Helicobacter pylori is the main cause of chronic gastritis and peptic ulcer . H pylori infection in patients infected with HIV has been reported to be low. Other studies showed that H pylori infection is similar in both HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients. This study seeks to determine the seroprevalence of H. pylori amongst HIV patients who are Anti Retroviral therapy naive, irrespective of clinical stage or CD4 count in Benin city,
Edo state, south- south Nigeria. Methods: Ninety HIV Patients aged 15 years and above of either gender seen in the out patient clinics of UBTH over a one year period from 2008-2009 were included in this study. Blood samples were taken for HIV testing and Helicobacter serology. The data were analyzed using the Epi–info statistical package Results: Ninety(90) samples were analyzed. Twenty nine (29)32.2% were from male subjects, while 61 (67.87%) were from females; 27(93.1%) of the 29 males were seropositive for HIV and Hyplori co –infection while 2(6.9%) were HIV seropositive and H.pylori seronegative. Amongst the females 41 (67.2%) were seropositive for HIV and H.pylori, while 20 (32.8%) were seronegative for H.pylori but seropositive for HIV. A total of 68 (75.6%) patients were seropositve for H.pylori and HIV infection while 22 (24.4%) were seronegative for H.Pylori but seropositive for HIV infection. The difference in the prevalence between males and females was significant.
Conclusion: This study showed a high seroprevalence of H.Pylori in treatment naïve HIV–infected persons and a gender difference that needs to be validated by further studies.

Keywords: Helicobacter Pylori, Seroprevalence, HIV, Benin City.