Acute Hepatitis B and Acute HIV Coinfection in an Adult Patient: A Rare Case Report

Abstract

Acute HIV and acute hepatitis B coinfection is extremely rare. A 23-year-old homosexual man was admitted to our hospital with 5-day history of fever, malaise, and back pain with initial laboratory values showing severe transaminitis. The clinical picture was initially suggestive of acute viral hepatitis, which on further testing revealed acute hepatitis B and acute HIV coinfection. Although the patient was asymptomatic, a decision was made to start antiretroviral therapy. At 2-month followup, liver function tests were normal with undetectable viral loads. The early treatment of acute HIV/HBV coinfections likely contributed to eventual seroconversion with immunity to HBV in a severely immunocompromised host. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of acute Hepatitis B and acute HIV coinfection and its management. In conclusion, early treatment of acute hepatitis B in immunocompromised patients may be beneficial.