Impact of Malaria and Hepatitis B Co-infection on Clinical and Cytokine Profiles Among Pregnant Women

Overview

Journal PLoS One

Specialties General Medicine
Science

Date 2019 Apr 20

PMID 31002731

Citations 11

Authors

Nsoh Godwin Anabire

Paul Armah Aryee

Abass Abdul-Karim

Osbourne Quaye

Gordon Akanzuwine Awandare

Gideon Kofi Helegbe

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: The overlap of malaria and chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is common in endemic regions, however, it is not known if this co-infection could adversely influence clinical and immunological responses. This study investigated these interactions in pregnant women reporting to antenatal clinics in Ghana.

Methods: Clinical parameters (hemoglobin, liver function biomarker, peripheral malaria parasitemia, and hepatitis B viremia) and cytokine profiles were assayed and compared across four categories of pregnant women: un-infected, mono-infected with Plasmodium falciparum (Malaria group), mono-infected with chronic hepatitis B virus (CHB group) and co-infected (Malaria+CHB group).

Results: Women with Malaria+CHB maintained appreciably normal hemoglobin levels (mean±SEM = 10.3±0.3 g/dL). That notwithstanding, Liver function test showed significantly elevated levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and total bilirubin [P<0.001 for all comparisons]. Similarly, the Malaria+CHB group had significantly elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines, including tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6 [P<0.05 for all comparisons]. In women with Malaria+CHB, correlation analysis showed significant negative association of the pro-inflammatory cytokines responses with malaria parasitemia [IL-1β (P<0.001; r = -0.645), IL-6 (P = 0.046; r = -0.394) and IL-12 (P = 0.011; r = -0.49)]. On the other hand, the pro-inflammatory cytokine levels positively correlated with HBV viremia [TNF-α (P = 0.004; r = 0.549), IL-1β (P<0.001; r = 0.920), IL-6 (P<0.001; r = 0.777), IFN-γ (P = 0.002; r = 0.579), IL-2 (P = 0.008; r = 0.512) and IL-12 (P<0.001; r = 0.655)]. Also, for women in the Malaria+CHB group, parasitemia was observed to diminish HBV viremia [P = 0.003, r = -0.489].

Conclusion: Put together the findings suggests that Malaria+CHB could exacerbate inflammatory cytokine responses and increase susceptibility to liver injury among pregnant women in endemic settings.

Citing Articles

Socioeconomic determinants of malaria and hepatitis infections: insights from the Federal Medical Center, Makurdi, North Central, Nigeria.

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Extended analysis on peripheral blood cytokines correlated with hepatitis B virus viral load in chronically infected patients - a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Manea M, Maruntelu I, Constantinescu I Front Med (Lausanne). 2024; 11:1429926.

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Hepatitis B Virus Infection: A Mini Review.

Asandem D, Segbefia S, Kusi K, Bonney J Viruses. 2024; 16(5).

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Alcohol intake, smoking, self-medication practices and burden of anaemia among traders in Tamale metropolis of Ghana.

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Co-Occurrence of G6PD Deficiency and SCT among Pregnant Women Exposed to Infectious Diseases.

Helegbe G, Wemakor A, Ameade E, Anabire N, Anaba F, Bautista J J Clin Med. 2023; 12(15).

PMID: 37568487 PMC: 10419962. DOI: 10.3390/jcm12155085.

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