OBJECTIVES: To define the role that sexual transmission plays in the spread of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, and to examine the influence of coexistent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection on this mode of transmission. DESIGN: A multicentre, seroprevalence study of anti-HCV performed in the stable heterosexual partners (SHP) of index cases reactive for anti-HCV. SETTING: Department of Internal Medicine and Section of Gastroenterology of three University Hospitals, Spain. SUBJECTS: A total of 423 stable heterosexual partners of index cases reactive for anti-HCV. This included a group of 142 intravenous drug users (IVDU), 120 of whom were coinfected with HIV. Additionally, 2886 first-time voluntary blood donors selected at random were included to compare the prevalence of anti-HCV. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Serum samples were screened for anti-HCV by a commercially available, second-generation enzyme-linked immunoassay. Tests repeatedly reactive for anti-HCV were analysed by a four-antigen, recombinant immunoblot assay. Anti-HIV was tested by enzyme immunoassay and Western blot was used for confirmation of positive cases. RESULTS: The prevalence of anti-HCV, was 7.1% in SHP and 1.2% in random donors (P < 0.001). This prevalence was higher in SHP of index cases coinfected with HIV in comparison with that shown in the SHP of index cases only reactive for the anti-HCV (9.1 vs. 6.3%; P = 0.2), particularly when a younger and more homogeneous group such as the SHP of IVDU index cases was considered alone (9.2 vs. 0%; P = 0.1). However, the SHP of IVDU index cases coinfected with HIV were almost three times more likely to be infected with HIV than HCV (24.2 vs. 9.2%). CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that HCV infection may be sexually transmitted but with low efficiency, and this could be increased in the presence of coexistent HIV infection in the index case.
OBJECTIVES: To define the role that sexual transmission plays in the spread of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, and to examine the influence of coexistent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection on this mode of transmission. DESIGN: A multicentre, seroprevalence study of anti-HCV performed in the stable heterosexual partners (SHP) of index cases reactive for anti-HCV. SETTING: Department of Internal Medicine and Section of Gastroenterology of three University Hospitals, Spain. SUBJECTS: A total of 423 stable heterosexual partners of index cases reactive for anti-HCV. This included a group of 142 intravenous drug users (IVDU), 120 of whom were coinfected with HIV. Additionally, 2886 first-time voluntary blood donors selected at random were included to compare the prevalence of anti-HCV. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Serum samples were screened for anti-HCV by a commercially available, second-generation enzyme-linked immunoassay. Tests repeatedly reactive for anti-HCV were analysed by a four-antigen, recombinant immunoblot assay. Anti-HIV was tested by enzyme immunoassay and Western blot was used for confirmation of positive cases. RESULTS: The prevalence of anti-HCV, was 7.1% in SHP and 1.2% in random donors (P < 0.001). This prevalence was higher in SHP of index cases coinfected with HIV in comparison with that shown in the SHP of index cases only reactive for the anti-HCV (9.1 vs. 6.3%; P = 0.2), particularly when a younger and more homogeneous group such as the SHP of IVDU index cases was considered alone (9.2 vs. 0%; P = 0.1). However, the SHP of IVDU index cases coinfected with HIV were almost three times more likely to be infected with HIV than HCV (24.2 vs. 9.2%). CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that HCV infection may be sexually transmitted but with low efficiency, and this could be increased in the presence of coexistent HIV infection in the index case.
Authors: D M Patrick; M W Tyndall; P G Cornelisse; K Li; C H Sherlock; M L Rekart; S A Strathdee; S L Currie; M T Schechter; M V O'Shaughnessy Journal: CMAJ Date: 2001-10-02 Impact factor: 8.262
Authors: Srigayatri Bollepalli; Kathleen Mathieson; Beata Jasiurkowski; Amy Hillier; John Post; Shakil Bhanu; Dean Martin; David H Van Thiel; Abdul Nadir Journal: Dig Dis Sci Date: 2007-06-12 Impact factor: 3.199
Authors: Paul Shapshak; Charurut Somboonwit; Lydia N Drumright; Simon D W Frost; Deborah Commins; Timothy L Tellinghuisen; William K Scott; Robert Duncan; Clyde McCoy; J Bryan Page; Brian Giunta; Francisco Fernandez; Elyse Singer; Andrew Levine; Alireza Minagar; Oluwadayo Oluwadara; Taiwo Kotila; Francesco Chiappelli; John T Sinnott Journal: Mol Diagn Ther Date: 2009 Impact factor: 4.074
Authors: Shinwon Lee; Sun Hee Lee; Su Jin Lee; Kye-Hyung Kim; Jeong Eun Lee; Heerim Cho; Seung Geun Lee; Joo Seop Chung; Ihm Soo Kwak Journal: Korean J Intern Med Date: 2016-04-27 Impact factor: 2.884