[Prevalence of hepatitis C virus among HIV-infected patients in Area 2 of Madrid].
BACKGROUND
The evolution of HIV infection, a rapid and fatal illness not long time ago, has become a chronic disease due to the implementation of new antiretroviral treatment. Therefore it is essential to focus on the management of concurrent illnesses such as chronic hepatitis C infection, specially as they share common routes of transmission.


METHODS
A cross sectional survey was done to determine the prevalence of HIV and HCV coinfection, measuring different HIV and HCV variables among 651 HIV infected patients of a health area in Madrid.


RESULTS
500 patients (76.8%) were male and 151 female (23%). HCV serology was performed in all the patients and resulted positive in 45.7% (298) most of them drug users (84.8%). The CD4 cell count was lower in patients HIV-HCV coinfected compared to those HCV negative (p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows a high prevalence of HIV-HCV coinfection, mainly due to parenteral transmission. We emphasize the low percentage of coinfected patients treated with interferon and ribavirine which probably will increase in the future.
González Cerrajero
M
M
Servicio de Medicina Interna-Infecciosas, Hospital Universitario de la Princesa, Madrid.
Pazos García
A
A
de los Santos Gil
I
I
Sanz Sanz
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients; D015995:Prevalence; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013030:Spain; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population; D019562:Viral Load
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D012254:Ribavirin; D007372:Interferons