title: Prevalence and characteristics of herpes simplex virus type-2 coinfection in veterans with hepatitis C.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Epidemiologic links between herpes simplex virus type-2 (HSV-2) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) exist but are poorly characterized. Seroprevalence studies of HSV-2 in veteran populations with chronic HCV infection are lacking.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors reviewed the medical histories and results of the HerpeSelect IgG (Focus Diagnostics, Cypress, CA) of 244 HCV-infected male veterans engaged in care. All patients were human immunodeficiency virus negative and >99% defined themselves as heterosexual.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Using the manufacturer's recommended cutoff for positive results (>1.1), 51.5% of HCV-infected veterans were seropositive for HSV-2. When increasing the cutoff to >3.5, 38.7% of persons were seropositive for HSV-2. Reports of previous diagnosis with genital ulcer disease (9/213; 4.3%) or genital herpes (4/213; 1.9%) were rare.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HSV-2 infection commonly occurred in the study sample of HCV-infected veterans but was infrequently recognized. Future studies should optimize the use of type-specific serologic screening tests in HCV-infected persons. The high prevalence of HSV-2 in this population merits further investigation into any potential biologic interactions between these common viral infections.
authors.affiliation: Medical Service, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, USA. mary.burton2@va.gov
authors.forename: Mary Jane
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Burton
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Penman
authors.forename: Gwendolyn
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Adams-McAlpine
authors.forename: Timothy L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Overman
authors.forename: Edward W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Hook
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D015331:Cohort Studies; D060085:Coinfection / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008922:Mississippi / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014728:Veterans
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G