BACKGROUND: Limited information is available about the prevalence of hepatitis C virus in patients with human immunodeficiency virus in relation to specific risk factors or about the influence of hepatitis C virus coinfection on survival. This retrospective study addressed these questions. METHODS: The study population consisted of 512 predominantly non-intravenous drug-using male homosexuals, 224 of whom had AIDS. Samples positive for hepatitis C virus antibody by second-generation enzyme immunoassay were further tested by means of strip immunoblot assay, and for hepatitis C virus RNA by means of polymerase chain reaction amplification. A randomly selected set of enzyme immunoassay-negative samples was also tested for hepatitis C virus RNA and, if hepatitis C virus RNA positive, by a second-generation recombinant immunoblot assay. RESULTS: The prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection unaccounted for by intravenous drug use or transfusion was 11.7% by enzyme immunoassay, and 87% of sera positive by enzyme immunoassay were also positive by second-generation recombinant immunoblot assay or hepatitis C virus RNA analysis. Hepatitis C virus RNA was detectable in 53% of enzyme immunoassay-positive samples but in only about 1% of enzyme immunoassay-negative samples. Hepatitis C virus coinfection did not influence survival of HIV-infected patients with or without manifestations of AIDS. CONCLUSIONS: Hepatitis C virus infection in nontransfused, non-intravenous drug-using patients with HIV infection is several times more prevalent than in volunteer blood donors, suggesting homosexual transmission of hepatitis C virus. About half of patients seropositive for hepatitis C virus antibody have detectable hepatitis C virus RNA, and serologically occult hepatitis C virus viremia is rare. Hepatitis C virus coinfection does not appear to adversely influence survival.
BACKGROUND: Limited information is available about the prevalence of hepatitis C virus in patients with human immunodeficiency virus in relation to specific risk factors or about the influence of hepatitis C virus coinfection on survival. This retrospective study addressed these questions. METHODS: The study population consisted of 512 predominantly non-intravenous drug-using male homosexuals, 224 of whom had AIDS. Samples positive for hepatitis C virus antibody by second-generation enzyme immunoassay were further tested by means of strip immunoblot assay, and for hepatitis C virus RNA by means of polymerase chain reaction amplification. A randomly selected set of enzyme immunoassay-negative samples was also tested for hepatitis C virus RNA and, if hepatitis C virus RNA positive, by a second-generation recombinant immunoblot assay. RESULTS: The prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection unaccounted for by intravenous drug use or transfusion was 11.7% by enzyme immunoassay, and 87% of sera positive by enzyme immunoassay were also positive by second-generation recombinant immunoblot assay or hepatitis C virus RNA analysis. Hepatitis C virus RNA was detectable in 53% of enzyme immunoassay-positive samples but in only about 1% of enzyme immunoassay-negative samples. Hepatitis C virus coinfection did not influence survival of HIV-infectedpatients with or without manifestations of AIDS. CONCLUSIONS:Hepatitis C virus infection in nontransfused, non-intravenous drug-using patients with HIV infection is several times more prevalent than in volunteer blood donors, suggesting homosexual transmission of hepatitis C virus. About half of patients seropositive for hepatitis C virus antibody have detectable hepatitis C virus RNA, and serologically occult hepatitis C virus viremia is rare. Hepatitis C virus coinfection does not appear to adversely influence survival.
Authors: E Bierhoff; H P Fischer; E Willsch; J Rockstroh; U Spengler; H H Brackmann; J Oldenburg Journal: Virchows Arch Date: 1997-04 Impact factor: 4.064
Authors: Mark Hull; Pierre Giguère; Marina Klein; Stephen Shafran; Alice Tseng; Pierre Côté; Marc Poliquin; Curtis Cooper Journal: Can J Infect Dis Med Microbiol Date: 2014 Impact factor: 2.471
Authors: F Saillour; F Dabis; M Dupon; D Lacoste; P Trimoulet; P Rispal; E Monlun; J M Ragnaud; P Morlat; J L Pellegrin; H Fleury; P Couzigou Journal: BMJ Date: 1996-08-24