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Hepatitis C in HIV‐infected patients with and without AIDS: Prevalence and relationship to patient survival
Author(s) -
Wright Teresa L.,
Hollander Harry,
Pu Xiang,
Held Michael J.,
Lipson Peter,
Quan Stella,
Polito Alan,
Thaler M. Michael,
Bacchetti Peter,
Scharschmidt Bruce F.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.488
H-Index - 361
eISSN - 1527-3350
pISSN - 0270-9139
DOI - 10.1002/hep.1840200508
Subject(s) - medicine , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , virology , hepatitis c , sida , viral disease
Abstract 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. (Hepatology 1994;20:1152–1155).