Heterosexual and homosexual transmission of hepatitis C virus: relation with hepatitis B virus and human immunodeficiency virus type 1.
A seroprevalence study was carried out on 1757 outpatients consecutively seen in a sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic in order to evaluate the sexual transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV). A total of 1442 consenting patients were tested for hepatitis C, hepatitis B and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HCV, HBV, HIV-1) antibodies. The relations between anti-HCV, anti-HBc and anti-HIV-1 were studied. Of 73 anti-HCV positive reactions, 45 (61.6%) were confirmed by the recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA). The proportion of individuals with anti-HCV was higher in outpatients with a history of sexually transmitted disease than without. It was 2.8% in non drug user heterosexuals and 2.9% in non drug user homosexuals. Intravenous drug users (IDU) had higher anti-HCV prevalence when a history of STD was taken into account (42.3% in subjects with STD versus 36.7% in subjects without STD). Among non drug user heterosexuals an association was found between anti-HCV and anti-HBc. These data suggest that sexual transmission of HCV occurs, although it seems to be less efficient than other parenteral modes of transmission. When a more sensitive and specific marker of HCV infection become available, a more accurate estimate of the frequency and efficiency of the sexual transmission will be possible.
Corona
R
R
Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Laboratorio di Epidemiologia e Biostatistica, Roma.
Prignano
G
G
Mele
A
A
Gentili
G
G
Caprilli
F
F
Franco
E
E
Ferrigno
L
L
Giglio
A
A
Titti
F
F
Bruno
C
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001727:Bisexuality; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D005260:Female; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications
D015483:HIV Antibodies; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies