Low prevalence of hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus co-infection in patients with human immunodeficiency virus in Northern India.
OBJECTIVE
To study the prevalence of HBV and HCV co-infection in patients with HIV attending a referral hospital in Northern India.


METHODS
The study cohort included six hundred and twenty consecutive HIV infected patients who were studied for co-infection with HBV/HCV or both. It included four hundred and seventy two male and one hundred and forty eight female patients between the age group 25-50 years. HBV and HCV infection was diagnosed by ELISA. Other routine investigations were also done.


RESULTS
Out of a total of 620 consecutive HIV infected patients studied, HBV co-infection was detected in 14/ 620 (2.25%) patients and HCV co-infection in 10/620 (1.61%) patients and dual co-infection (HBV/HCV) in 1/620(0.16%). The mode of transmission of HBV was sexual contact in all (100%), while for HCV it was sexual contact in 5 patients (50%), blood transfusion in 4 patients (40%) and intravenous drug use (IDU) in 1 patient (10%).


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of co-infection with HBV/HCV is much lower in our study population as compared to that reported in Western literature.
Tripathi
A K
AK
AIDS Care and ART Center, King George's Medical University, Lucknow, India.
Khanna
M
M
Gupta
N
N
Chandra
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D017848:Blood-Borne Pathogens / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015897:Comorbidity; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior
D000914:Antibodies, Viral