OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence, incidence, and persistence of positivity for antibodies to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) and the potential for sexual transmission of the virus. DESIGN: A cohort analysis covering 1981-9 comparing estimated cumulative incidences of and seroconversion rates for anti-HCV with those of hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) and antibodies to the human immunodeficiency virus (anti-HIV). SETTING: Copenhagen and Aarhus, Denmark. SUBJECTS: 259 Male members of a Danish homosexual organisation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Correlations of prevalence and incidence with a wide range of sexual lifestyle variables. RESULTS: Only four (1.6%) subjects were positive for anti-HCV in 1981. The estimated cumulative incidence of positivity for anti-HCV was 4.1% in 1984 (seroconversion rate during 1981-4 (2.5%)) and remained at 4.1% in 1989 (seroconversion rate nil during 1984-9). In contrast, positivity for anti-HBC rose from 44.0% in 1981 to 52.7% in 1984 (seroconversion rate 15.5%) and 58.8% in 1989 (seroconversion rate 12.9%), and that for anti-HIV rose from 8.8% to 24.0% (seroconversion rate 16.7%) and 30.1% (seroconversion rate 8.0%) respectively. Three anti-HCV positive patients seroreverted three to five years later. None of the anti-HCV positive subjects had had a transfusion and only one gave a past history of intravenous drug use. Variables in sexual lifestyle correlated with the presence of anti-HBc but not with that of anti-HCV. CONCLUSIONS: In contrast with hepatitis B virus and HIV, sexual transmission of hepatitis C virus seems to be a rare event. Furthermore, antibodies to the virus may become undetectable after several years.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence, incidence, and persistence of positivity for antibodies to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) and the potential for sexual transmission of the virus. DESIGN: A cohort analysis covering 1981-9 comparing estimated cumulative incidences of and seroconversion rates for anti-HCV with those of hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) and antibodies to the human immunodeficiency virus (anti-HIV). SETTING: Copenhagen and Aarhus, Denmark. SUBJECTS: 259 Male members of a Danish homosexual organisation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Correlations of prevalence and incidence with a wide range of sexual lifestyle variables. RESULTS: Only four (1.6%) subjects were positive for anti-HCV in 1981. The estimated cumulative incidence of positivity for anti-HCV was 4.1% in 1984 (seroconversion rate during 1981-4 (2.5%)) and remained at 4.1% in 1989 (seroconversion rate nil during 1984-9). In contrast, positivity for anti-HBC rose from 44.0% in 1981 to 52.7% in 1984 (seroconversion rate 15.5%) and 58.8% in 1989 (seroconversion rate 12.9%), and that for anti-HIV rose from 8.8% to 24.0% (seroconversion rate 16.7%) and 30.1% (seroconversion rate 8.0%) respectively. Three anti-HCV positive patients seroreverted three to five years later. None of the anti-HCV positive subjects had had a transfusion and only one gave a past history of intravenous drug use. Variables in sexual lifestyle correlated with the presence of anti-HBc but not with that of anti-HCV. CONCLUSIONS: In contrast with hepatitis B virus and HIV, sexual transmission of hepatitis C virus seems to be a rare event. Furthermore, antibodies to the virus may become undetectable after several years.
Authors: M Roggendorf; F Deinhardt; R Rasshofer; J Eberle; U Hopf; B Möller; R Zachoval; G Pape; W Schramm; F Rommel Journal: Lancet Date: 1989-08-05 Impact factor: 79.321
Authors: M Melbye; R J Biggar; P Ebbesen; C Neuland; J J Goedert; V Faber; I Lorenzen; P Skinhøj; R C Gallo; W A Blattner Journal: Ann Intern Med Date: 1986-04 Impact factor: 25.391
Authors: M J Alter; P J Coleman; W J Alexander; E Kramer; J K Miller; E Mandel; S C Hadler; H S Margolis Journal: JAMA Date: 1989-09-01 Impact factor: 56.272
Authors: C L van der Poel; H W Reesink; P N Lelie; A Leentvaar-Kuypers; Q L Choo; G Kuo; M Houghton Journal: Lancet Date: 1989-08-05 Impact factor: 79.321
Authors: J I Esteban; R Esteban; L Viladomiu; J C López-Talavera; A González; J M Hernández; M Roget; V Vargas; J Genescà; M Buti Journal: Lancet Date: 1989-08-05 Impact factor: 79.321