Hepatitis C virus and human T-lymphotropic virus coinfection: epidemiological, clinical, laboratory and histopathological features.
Twenty-four hepatitis C virus patients coinfected with human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 were compared with six coinfected with HTLV-2 and 55 with HCV alone, regarding clinical, epidemiological, laboratory and histopathological data. Fischer's discriminant analysis was applied to define functions capable of differentiating between the study groups (HCV, HCV/HTLV-1 and HCV/HTLV-2). The discriminant accuracy was evaluated by cross-validation. Alcohol consumption, use of intravenous drugs or inhaled cocaine and sexual partnership with intravenous drug users were more frequent in the HCV/HTLV-2 group, whereas patients in the HCV group more often reported abdominal pain or a sexual partner with hepatitis. Coinfected patients presented higher platelet counts, but aminotransferase and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase levels were higher among HCV-infected subjects. No significant difference between the groups was seen regarding liver histopathological findings. Through discriminant analysis, classification functions were defined, including sex, age group, intravenous drug use and sexual partner with hepatitis. Cross-validation revealed high discriminant accuracy for the HCV group.
Department of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Flávio Augusto Pádua
FA
Milagres
Maria Irma Seixas
MI
Duarte
Ana Teresa
AT
Viso
Aluisio Cotrim
AC
Segurado
D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D015491:HTLV-II Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult