Hepatitis C virus in the semen of men coinfected with HIV-1: prevalence and origin

Briat, Aurélie; Dulioust, Emmanuel; Galimand, Julie; Fontaine, Hélène; Chaix, Marie‐Laure; Letur-Könirsch, H.; Pol, Stanislas; Jouannet, Pierre; Rouzioux, Christine; Leruez‐Ville, Marianne

doi:10.1097/01.aids.0000189847.98569.2d

Cited by 91 publications

(68 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…HIV infection might facilitate HCV transmission by increasing viral infectiousness through higher HCV viral loads in blood and semen [34] as well as viral susceptibility through HIV-impaired immunological control [35]. Even in the presence of preserved overall CD4 counts (>500 cells/mm 3 ), massive irreversible damage already occurs to the mucosal tissues of the gastrointestinal immune system in the first weeks of HIV infection [36] which could facilitate HCV entry through the mucosa.…”

Section: As Well As In the Unitedmentioning

confidence: 99%

Viral hepatitis among men who have sex with men, epidemiology and public health consequences

et al. 2009

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Viral hepatitis causes major disease burden worldwide, due to the chronic hepatitis sequelae: cirrhosis and primary liver cancer. Transmission of viral hepatitis is a problem not only in low-income countries, but also in high-income ones where viral hepatitis is a frequently occurring infection among men who have sex with men (MSM). Although the transmission routes of the three main hepatitis viruses, A, B and C, differ, MSM mainly acquire viral hepatitis during sexual contact. Vaccination programmes (only available for hepatitis A and B), raising awareness, and screening can be used to prevent transmission. However, despite the introduction of such methods in many high-income countries, the spread of viral hepatitis among MSM is still ongoing. This paper provides an overview of sexually acquired hepatitis A, B, and C among MSM in high-income countries, using recent insights obtained through molecular epidemiology, with the aim to raise awareness, improve vaccination coverage, and stimulate prevention programs.

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Section: As Well As In the Unitedmentioning

confidence: 99%

Viral hepatitis among men who have sex with men, epidemiology and public health consequences

et al. 2009

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“…23 Furthermore, HCV RNA has been detected at higher rates in the semen from HIV/HCV-coinfected men 24 versus HCV-monoinfected men. 25 The practices of unprotected and traumatic anal sex increase the chance of semen-to-blood or blood-to-blood transmission, whereas concomitant sexually transmitted infections may further facilitate this process. These explanations may also help explain why similar effects of HIV on HCV transmission and acquisition are not generally observed in females.…”

Section: Transmission Of Acute Hcv Infectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Acute hepatitis C virus infection: A chronic problem

et al. 2008

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S ince the discovery of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the late 1980s, there has been an explosion of information regarding its natural history, treatment, and replication cycle. Nonetheless, there are still relatively few data regarding acute HCV infection. By convention, the term acute hepatitis refers to the presence of clinical signs or symptoms of hepatitis for a period of 6 months or fewer after the presumed time of HCV exposure. Early studies of posttransfusion patients who developed non-A, non-B hepatitis provide a clinical picture of early infection. 1 Following the availability of specific serologic and virologic tests, most such patients were shown to have acute HCV infection. After acute infection, HCV RNA may become detectable in the serum/plasma in as little as 2 weeks ( Fig. 1). Several weeks later, a high percentage of patients experience an increase in serum aminotransferase levels consistent with the development of acute hepatocellular injury. In the majority of cases, patients develop mild constitutional symptoms, including abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, anorexia, and fatigue. During this acute infection, serum aminotransferases often peak below 1000 IU/mL and may return to normal levels. A minority develops sufficient elevations in bilirubin to lead to overt jaundice or the development of dark urine. Unless the clinical suspicion is high, few patients will be tested for HCV RNA or HCV antibody seroconversion. However, in the majority-but not all-of infected patients, HCV RNA persists, and a chronic disease state develops.The reasons for the general lack of data regarding acute HCV infection are multifactorial and include (1) the relatively high percentage of asymptomatic or unrecognized early infections, (2) the lack of large-scale identification of chronic carriers in the general population who serve as a reservoir for infection, and (3) the decreased number of acute infections that occur in controlled clinical settings such as that of blood transfusions. These factors and the lack of nonprimate animal models necessitate reliance on retrospective studies in chronic carriers, the use of limited historical collections of banked sera, and the extrapolation of outcomes based on small disease outbreaks in unique settings (for example, transmission from a physician to a patient in the operating room setting or following parenteral exposure in healthcare workers). Moreover, there exist only a limited number of population cohorts that continue to experience high rates of HCV transmission (for example, Egypt); nonetheless, there is a growing body of information regarding the clinical presentation, natural history, and treatment outcomes of acute HCV infection.In this article, we review the current information regarding our understanding of the epidemiology, virology, and immunology of HCV with a particular emphasis on acute HCV infection. In addition, we review recent data related to interferon-based treatment intervention and propose an algorithm for the diagnosis and management of acute HCV inf...

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“…In Poland the percentage of co-infection might reach up to 71% of HIV positive persons and was shown to reduce life expectancy by 17.3 years [19,20]. The HC EP09 and BINECO studies showed that HCV/HIV co-infected patients had HCV RNA found in the semen more frequently than those without HIV infection (37.8% vs. 18.4%) [21]. This may facilitate HCV permucosal transmission among HIV positive people.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The characteristics of HIV serodiscordant couples consulted at the HIV Out-Patient Clinic in Warsaw

Grzeszczuk¹,

Wróblewska²,

Firląg-Burkacka³

et al. 2017

HIV & AIDS Review

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Introduction: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is predominantly transmitted through unprotected sexual intercourse. Condom use in long-term relations is uncertain, thus antiretroviral treatment can be the most efficient method of preventing HIV transmission. The objective of this study was to analyze epidemiological characteristics of HIV serodiscordant couples coming to consecutive visits. Material and methods:Data on demographics, HIV viral load, hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infections of HIV positive individuals (index patients) and data on sexual behavior, condom use in sexual relations were obtained from medical files.Results: There were 52 couples investigated: 16 (31%) homosexual and 36 (69%) heterosexual ones. In general, 47 (90%) HIV positive patients were on combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) and 42 (89%) had HIV RNA below 50 copies/ml at last measurement. During one year of observation, 18 (35%) patients had detectable HIV RNA. Out of index patients, 18 (35%) were anti-HCV positive, 1 (2%) was HBSAg positive and 4 (7.7%) were VDRL positive. Twenty (38%) persons admitted to have unprotected sexual contacts, 6 (29%) homosexual men and 15 (71%) heterosexual persons. Only 29 (56%) HIV negative partners were tested regularly for HIV. Ten (19%) of HIV positive patients already had children. There were five pregnancies during the time of the study. Four couples declared a desire to have children. Only 3 couples considered assisted reproduction. Conclusions:Unprotected sex occurs often among serodiscordant couples observed. Thus regular cART should be emphasized. Frequent co-infections (HCV and syphilis) among index patients prove that it is necessary to test HIV negative partners for these infections. The observation confirms purposefulness of couple counseling about safe conception.

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Hepatitis C virus in the semen of men coinfected with HIV-1: prevalence and origin

Abstract: HCV particles in semen originate from passive passage from blood, with preferential transfer of some variants. Nearly half of HIV-1/HCV-coinfected men may intermittently harbour HCV in their semen. Recommendations of protected sex for HIV-infected individuals should be reinforced.

Cited by 91 publications

References 33 publications

Viral hepatitis among men who have sex with men, epidemiology and public health consequences

Viral hepatitis among men who have sex with men, epidemiology and public health consequences

Acute hepatitis C virus infection: A chronic problem

The characteristics of HIV serodiscordant couples consulted at the HIV Out-Patient Clinic in Warsaw

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