Prevalence of hepatitis C virus antibodies among patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus

Abstract

A study was undertaken to determine the prevalence and risk factors for serological evidence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Tests for anti-HCV antibody were carried out by enzyme-linked immunoassay (EIA) on 101 HIV-infected patients from two university-based outpatient clinics. Anti-HCV antibody reactive samples were tested by using a recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA) for HCV antibodies. Fourteen of 101 (13.9%) HIV-infected patients were anti-HCV reactive by EIA. Of these 14, only seven were reactive by RIBA: four were intravenous drug users as a sole risk factor for HIV infection; and the remaining three acquired HIV by blood transfusion, contaminated instrument exposure or IV drug use and sexual contact. Acquisition of HIV by sexual activity alone was not associated with HCV infection. It is concluded that HCV infection is found in approximately 7% of a university HIV clinic population. False-positive anti-HCV antibody serology may lead to overestimation of the prevalence of HCV infection. Female sex and intravenous drug use are significantly associated with HCV infection among HIV-infected individuals.

Hepatitis C virus infection in an HIV‐positive population in normandy: Antibodies, HCV RNA and genotype prevalence

“…This is higher than that reported in studies in the USA [Lucey et al, 1990;Hayashi et al, 1991;Quan et al, 1993;Sherman et al, 19913. These results are in agreement with earlier French reports describing rates of seroprevalence ranging from 29.3% to 48% [Ranger et al, 1991;Lafeuillade et al, 1990;Ladner et al, 1992;Quaranta et al, 19921.…”

Clinical laboratory assessment of hepatitis C and HIV coinfected patients according to the antiretroviral therapy received

“…An example of that are the data from nonhomogeneous populations originated from different American and European studies, where the prevalence ranges from 7% in populations with majority of males, current or previous intravenous drug users, and a minor percentage of men who have sex with men and previous history of blood transfusion, as found in studies performed in California, U.S.A. and Toronto, Canada 10,20 , to 57% in populations consisting primarily of male individuals, current or previous intravenous drug users, and a minority of men who have sex with men as in a large Spanish study 16 .…”

Factors Affecting Liver Fibrosis in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-And Hepatitis C Virus-Coinfected Patients: Impact of Protease Inhibitor Therapy

“…[1][2][3] Until recently, HIV infection has been viewed as an inevitably progressive disease with morbid consequences. However, recent advances in therapy have dramatically reduced HIV-related complications and mortality.…”