Incident hepatitis C virus in women with human immunodeficiency virus infection.
Individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) are frequently coinfected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). Acute HCV infection is often asymptomatic and poorly understood. We conducted a historical prospective study of HCV antibody and viremia in plasma samples obtained during 1994-1999 from a cohort of initially HIV-1-infected, HCV-uninfected women and from HIV-1-HCV-uninfected women. Twenty-two (1.5%) of 1517 experienced seroconversion. Of these, 14 (64%) truly acquired a new infection as assessed by enzyme immunoassay response and new-onset viremia. The incidence rate in HIV-1-infected women was 2.7 cases per 1000 person-years; it was 3.3 cases per 1000 person-years in HIV-1-seronegative women (relative risk, 1.21; P=.75). Acquisition of HCV was associated with any history of drug use (P<.01). Five of 12 viremic, seroconverting individuals cleared viremia. Incident HCV infection among HIV-1-infected and HIV-1-uninfected women was low. It was linked to drug use and commonly resolved.
State University of New York-Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, Brooklyn, New York 11203, USA. michael.augenbraun@downstate.edu
M
M
Augenbraun
J J
JJ
Goedert
D
D
Thomas
J
J
Feldman
E C
EC
Seaberg
A L
AL
French
E
E
Robison
M
M
Nowicki
N
N
Terrault
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D006679:HIV Seropositivity; D015497:HIV-1; D016174:Hepacivirus; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016387:Women's Health