Sexual transmission of hepatitis C virus and its relation with hepatitis B virus and HIV.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the extent of transmission of hepatitis C virus in sexual partners of intravenous drug misusers and to examine the relation between the prevalences of HIV, hepatitis B virus, and hepatitis C virus infections in homosexual men and intravenous drug misusers and their sexual partners.


METHODS
Serum samples collected between 1984 and 1988 were tested for hepatitis B virus markers and antibodies against hepatitis C virus by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and for HIV antibody by enzyme immune analysis and western blotting.


METHODS
Large referral university hospital with an external AIDS clinic in the metropolitan area of Barcelona, Spain.


METHODS
243 Intravenous drug misusers, 143 of their regular heterosexual partners, and 105 homosexual men.


METHODS
Prevalences of hepatitis C virus, hepatitis B virus, and HIV infections.


RESULTS
In all, 178 of the 243 (73%) intravenous drug misusers, 16 out of 143 (11%) of their partners, and 17 of the 105 (16%) homosexual men had antibodies against hepatitis C virus. The presence of hepatitis C virus infection was unrelated to sex, age, the presence of HIV or hepatitis B virus infections, or the Centers for Disease Control stage of HIV. In sexual partners of intravenous drug misusers there were strong correlations between the presence of hepatitis C virus infection and that of HIV (p = 0.001) and hepatitis B virus (p = 0.013) infections.


CONCLUSIONS
Intravenous drug misusers have a high risk of acquiring hepatitis C virus, hepatitis B virus, and HIV infections, but the presence of hepatitis C virus infection seems to be unrelated to the presence of the other two viruses. Homosexual men have a high prevalence of HIV and hepatitis B virus infections with a low prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection, the presence of which is not related to that of the other two infections. Conversely, heterosexual partners of intravenous drug misusers have low prevalences of the three virus infections, but the presence of hepatitis C virus infection correlates significantly with the presence of HIV and hepatitis B infections. The rate of sexual transmission of hepatitis C virus seems to be low, even in partners of people known to be seropositive for this virus.
Tor
J
J
Infectious Diseases Unit, Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain.
Llibre
J M
JM
Carbonell
M
M
Muga
R
R
Ribera
A
A
Soriano
V
V
Clotet
B
B
Sabriá
M
M
Foz
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission*; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D015229:Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission*; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology
D015483:HIV Antibodies; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies