title: Viral hepatitis in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus.
abstract: From 1992 to 1995 we studied 232 (69% male, 87% Caucasian) anti-human immunodeficiency virus (anti-HIV) positive Brazilian patients, through a questionnaire; HIV had been acquired sexually by 50%, from blood by 32%, sexually and/or from blood by 16.4% and by an unknown route by 1.7%. Intravenous drug use was reported by 29%; it was the most important risk factor for HIV transmission. The alanine aminotransferase quotient (qALT) was >1 for 40% of the patients, 93.6% had anti-hepatitis A virus antibody, 5.3% presented hepatitis B surface antigen, 44% were anti-hepatitis B core antigen positive and 53.8% were anti-hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) positive. The anti-HCV test showed a significant association with qALT>1. Patients for whom the probable HIV transmission route was blood had a 10.8 times greater risk of being anti-HCV positive than patients infected by other routes. Among 30 patients submitted to liver biopsy, 18 presented chronic hepatitis.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medecine, UNICAMP, São Paulo, Campinas, Brazil. jpavan@mpc.com.br
authors.forename: Maria Helena P
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Pavan
authors.forename: Francisco Hideo
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Aoki
authors.forename: Dinaida Teresa
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Monteiro
authors.forename: Neiva Sellan L
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Gonçales
authors.forename: Cecília Amélia F
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Escanhoela
authors.forename: Fernando L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Gonçales Júnior
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001938:Brazil; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000635:transmission; D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D000410:Alanine Transaminase