title: High seroprevalence but low incidence of HCV infection in a cohort of patients with sexually transmitted HIV in Andalusia, Spain.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the prevalence and the incidence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) seropositivity in sexually transmitted human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Observational study of 1468 sexually transmitted HIV-infected patients from 7 hospitals (Southern Spain). Characteristics of HCV cases, and incidence of HCV seroconversion was assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seroprevalence of HCV was 16.1%, higher among heterosexual than homosexual patients, and similar between heterosexual men and women. Seroincidence was 0.16 cases per 100 patient-years, similar between homosexual and heterosexual patients. HCV patients had a mean CD4 of 523 cells/microl, 82.0% were on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), and 72.0% had undetectable HIV viral load. Serum HCV-RNA was positive in 79.0% cases, and only 16.0% had ever received HCV treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HCV seroprevalence among sexually transmitted HIV-infected patients is more frequent than in the general population; however, incidence of HCV infection is currently low. Patients with sexually transmitted HIV coinfected with HCV have their HIV infection well controlled, but HCV infection was treated in few cases.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Virgen de la Victoria, Málaga, Spain. med006809@saludalia.com
authors.forename: Rosario
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Palacios
authors.forename: Rosario
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mata
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Aguilar
authors.forename: Leopoldo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.forename: M José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Ríos
authors.forename: Salvador
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vergara
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rivero
authors.forename: Dolores
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Merino
authors.forename: Luis F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: López-Cortés
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Peña
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Santos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D020010:Heterosexuality; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D015229:Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral / Q000150:complications / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies