6533b7d7fe1ef96bd1267b50

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Modification of the immune response against hepatitis B virus by the human immunodeficiency virus.

K. C. WeberS. RossolR. VothK H Meyer Zum BüschenfeldeGeorg Hess

subject

Viral Hepatitis VaccinesHBsAgHepatitis B virusImmunologyAlpha interferonmedicine.disease_causeImmune systemRheumatologyHIV SeropositivitymedicineImmunology and AllergyHumansSeroconversionHepatitis ChronicHepatitis B virusImmunity Cellularbusiness.industryvirus diseasesHIVT-Lymphocytes Helper-InducerHepatitis Bmedicine.diseaseVirologyHBcAgImmunologyCarrier StateInterferon Type IbusinessViral loadT-Lymphocytes Cytotoxic

description

Hepatitis B virus and the human immunodeficiency virus are similarly transmitted. Individuals with preexisting HIV infection have a higher chance to become HBsAg carriers than do anti-HIV negative persons. Cytotoxic T cells with specificity for HBcAg, that are under the control of HBcAg-specific helper T cells, are responsible for liver injury. There is good evidence that HIV infection lowers inflammatory activity, is associated with milder liver histology, high levels of viral replication and low seroconversion rates. In addition interferon alpha therapy is less effective in anti-HIV positive subjects. The immune response against HBsAg is helper T-cell dependent and vaccination against hepatitis B is of low effectiveness. In addition, vaccination against hepatitis B may activate the HIV disease and is, therefore, presently not to be recommended.

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
1989-11-01Rheumatology international
10.1007/bf00271876https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2532781