Prevalence and determinants of antibodies to hepatitis C virus and markers for hepatitis B virus infection in patients with HIV infection in Aquitaine. Groupe d'Epidémiologie Clinique du SIDA en Aquitaine.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus and serological markers for hepatitis B virus infection in patients with HIV.


METHODS
Cross sectional survey.


METHODS
Aquitaine, southwestern France, 1991-94.


METHODS
1935 HIV positive patients seen at least once since June 1991.


METHODS
Presence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus were detected by second or third generation enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA) and markers for hepatitis B virus detected by ELISA.


RESULTS
The prevalence was 42.5% (823) for antibodies to hepatitis C virus, 56.4 (507) for antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen, 6.9% (133) for hepatitis B surface antigen, 30.2% (584) for antibodies to hepatitis B core and surface antigen with no detectable surface antigen, 26.2% (507) for antibodies to core antigen only, and 4.8% (92) for antibodies to surface antigen only. The prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus was 86.1% (726/843) in subjects who had bloodborne HIV infection and 7.3% (66/899) in those with sexually acquired infection. The prevalence of markers for hepatitis B was higher among homosexuals than in the other groups of patients, except for antibodies to surface antigen alone. The relation between markers for hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus was negative among men but positive among women.


CONCLUSIONS
The results favour the hypothesis that hepatitis C virus is sexually transmitted much less commonly than either HIV or hepatitis B virus.
Saillour
F
F
Unité INSERM No 330, Université de Bordeaux II, France.
Dabis
F
F
Dupon
M
M
Lacoste
D
D
Trimoulet
P
P
Rispal
P
P
Monlun
E
E
Ragnaud
J M
JM
Morlat
P
P
Pellegrin
J L
JL
Fleury
H
H
Couzigou
P
P
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D015415:Biomarkers; D002353:Carrier State; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007163:Immunosorbent Techniques; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors
D015415:Biomarkers; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies