Publications by authors named "E Sinkala"
Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) elimination requires expanding and decentralising HBV care services. However, peripheral health facilities lack access to diagnostic tools to assess eligibility for antiviral therapy. Through the Hepatitis B in Africa Collaborative Network (HEPSANET), we aimed to develop and evaluate a score using tests generally available at lower-level facilities, to simplify the evaluation of antiviral therapy eligibility in people living with HBV.
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- In Lusaka, Zambia, researchers studied adults with chronic hepatitis B and some with HIV by using a technique called fine needle aspiration (FNA) to take samples from their livers.
- They enrolled over 117 people and safely performed 47 follow-up procedures, making sure the participants were okay with the process.
- By analyzing the samples, they discovered different types of immune cells, which could help them learn more about hepatitis B and how to treat it better in Africa.
Article Synopsis
- A study in Zambia evaluated the long-term effects of tenofovir-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) on adults with both hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections.
- Among 289 participants, 13.6% experienced HBV viral non-suppression, primarily linked to advanced HIV disease, while significant regression of liver fibrosis and no cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were reported.
- The study found encouraging HBsAg seroclearance rates of 9.4% at two years and 15.4% at five years, suggesting that individuals with HIV should also be included in research aimed at HBV cures.
Article Synopsis
- The study examined the presence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 470 adults living with HIV in Zambia who showed neurological symptoms, finding that 28.9% tested positive for EBV DNA.
- Key associations with EBV positivity included younger age, shorter HIV duration, and specific CSF findings like low glucose and high protein and white blood cell levels.
- Despite the high EBV detection rate, the study concluded that EBV DNA load in CSF and blood had limited clinical significance and was not linked to patient mortality.