title: Loss of antibodies against hepatitis C virus in HIV-seropositive intravenous drug users.
abstract: A time-point survey of 262 ex-intravenous drug users (IVDUs) on methadone treatment showed serological evidence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in 64%, hepatitis B virus in 74% and HIV in 36%. Analysis of previously collected frozen stored sera of the same patients showed that 31 further IVDUs had had anti-HCV antibodies in the past and had lost them in a time-dependent fashion. Most HCV seroreversion was detected in HIV-positive people: 20 out of 85 in the HIV-positive group versus 11 out of 18 in the HIV-negative group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Geneva University Hospital, Switzerland.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chamot
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hirschel
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wintsch
authors.forename: C F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Robert
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gabriel
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Déglon
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yerly
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Perrin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000150:complications*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies