title: Hepatitis C virus infection among HIV-1 infected individuals from northern Mexico.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, risk factors and HCV genotypes in 140 HIV-1 infected individuals from northern Mexico was determined.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hepatitis C infection was confirmed by the detection of anti-HCV antibodies and HCV-RNA in sera, and genotyping was performed by the InnoLiPA-HCV genotype assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventeen (12.1%) out of 140 HIV-infected individuals were found to be HCV-positive. Coinfected individuals were more likely to be male (87%). The most frequent genotype was 1a (41%), followed by 1b (29.4%), 2a/c (17.6%), 2b (5.9%) and 3 (5.9%). Serum transaminase concentrations (AST and ALT) were higher in coinfected patients. Among the risk factors for coinfection: sexual transmission was the most frequently observed (men who have sex with men (MSM); 64.7% and bisexual behavior; 64.7%) followed by intravenous drug users (IVDU) (53%). There was no association of the HCV genotypes with the age and risk factors for HIV-1 and HCV infection observed in the studied patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that the prevalence of HIV-1/HCV coinfection in Mexico is lower than in other American countries.
authors: Laboratory of Molecular Infectology, Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Hospital Universitario 'Dr Jose E. Gonzalez', UANL, Monterrey NL, México.
authors: Ana M
authors: AM
authors: Rivas-Estilla
authors: Eda
authors: E
authors: Ramírez-Valles
authors: Ramón
authors: R
authors: Martinez-Hernández
authors: Claudia
authors: C
authors: Charles-Niño
authors: Ericka
authors: E
authors: Ramírez-Camacho
authors: Felix
authors: F
authors: Rositas-Noriega
authors: Maria L
authors: ML
authors: Garza-Rodriguez
authors: Hugo A
authors: HA
authors: Barrera-Saldaña
authors: Karina
authors: K
authors: Trujillo-Murillo
authors: Javier
authors: J
authors: Ramos-Jimenez