In order to assess the importance of HCV infection as a possible risk factor for type 2 diabetes mellitus, a casecontrol study was conducted, comparing the prevalence of HCV infection among diabetic and non-diabetic patients. Diabetic outpatients attending to a University Hospital in Central-West Brazil were evaluated between April and October 2005. A control group composed by patients from the same institution was matched by gender and age. Candidates to control group were included only if fasting glucose measures were under 100 mg/dL. Diabetics and controls had blood samples taken in order to test for antibodies against HCV (anti-HCV) by enzyme-immunoassay. Polymerase chain reaction and immunoblot were performed to confirm the anti-HCV status. Each group included 206 participants. Despite of the groups were in general comparable. The diabetics had a greater body mass average and smaller family income. The prevalence of confirmed anti-HCV in the diabetic group was of 1.4%, which was similar to the controls (1%). Finding statistical difference may have been hampered by the low frequency of HCV infection in both groups. It was not possible to demonstrate a role of HCV as an etiologic factor in type 2 diabetes, since HCV infected patients represented a small portion of the overall diabetes cases. This finding does not allow to recommend regular screening for HCV infection in type 2 diabetics in this region.

SUMMARYIn order to investigate the hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes in mid-west region of Brazil, 250 anti-HCV positive blood donors were studied. Among them, the anti-HCV serological status was confirmed in 205 (82%). HCV RNA was detected in 165 samples, which were genotyped. HCV types 1, 2 and 3 were found in 67.9%, 3% and 29.1% of the donors, respectively. In Goiás state, subtype 1a (50%) was the most prevalent, followed by subtypes 3a (30.9%) and 1b (16.7%). In Mato Grosso state, subtype 1a was also predominant (41%), followed by subtypes 1b (29.5%) and 3a (25%). In Mato Grosso do Sul state, subtypes 1a and 1b were detected equally (36.8%), followed by 3a (21.1%). Subtype 2b was rare (2.4%, 4.5% and 5.3%, respectively). In Distrito Federal, subtype 3a (39%) was more frequent than 1a (31.7%) and the remaining (29.3%) belonged to subtype 1b.

Background: End-stage liver disease is currently a major concern among HIV-positive individuals due to co-infection with hepatotropic virus. Hepatitis C has been pointed out as a remarkable factor for that. More recently, hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has also been found to play a role on liver disease in this population. HIV-HBV co-infection prevalence remains largely unknown in vast areas of Brazil. The objective of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of HBV and HDV infection in HIV-infected subjects living in the state of Mato Grosso, in the Central region of Brazil, and compare it to other Brazilian studies. We also assess epidemiologic data regarding risk factors and vaccinal status.

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