title: Seroprevalence of hepatitis virus infection in men who have sex with men aged 18-40 years in Taiwan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Men who have sex with men (MSM) are at increased risk for hepatitis A virus (HAV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections than the general population. Comparisons of the seroprevalence rates of these hepatitis viruses between HIV-positive and HIV-negative MSM are rarely performed in Taiwan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between January 2009 and June 2010, data on the serologies for HAV, HBV, and HCV were collected from two groups of patients: HIV-negative MSM, aged 18-40 years, who sought voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) for HIV infection, and HIV-positive MSM of the same age group who sought HIV care at the National Taiwan University Hospital. Both groups of patients were also tested for syphilis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the 18-month study period, 690 HIV-negative MSM and 438 HIV-positive MSM were enrolled and tested for anti-HAV antibody, HBV surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc antibody), and anti-HCV antibody. HIV-positive MSM were older than HIV-negative MSM (30.5 ± 5.4 vs. 25.8 ± 4.7 years, p < 0.01). For HIV-positive MSM, the mean CD4 lymphocyte count was 477.6 ± 230.0 cells/μL and 46% of them had undetectable plasma HIV RNA load (< 40 copies/mL by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay). The overall seroprevalence rates of HAV, HBsAg, and HCV in HIV-positive MSM were 15.1%, 16.4%, and 5.5%, respectively, while in HIV-negative MSM, they were 7.4%, 6.2%, and 0.4%, respectively. In the multivariate analysis, age was significantly associated with seropositivity for HAV (OR [per one age group increase]: 1.96; 95% CI: 1.6-2.5), HBsAg (OR: 2.02; 95% CI: 1.6-2.6), anti-HBc (OR: 2.68; 95% CI: 2.3-3.2), anti-HCV (OR: 1.67; 95% CI: 1.0-2.7), and anti-HBs (OR: 1.25; 95% CI: 1.0-1.5). HIV infection was associated with seropositivity for HBsAg (OR: 1.73; 95% CI: 1.1-2.7), anti-HBc (OR: 2.44; 95% CI: 1.8-3.3), HCV (OR: 8.91; 95% CI: 2.5-31.4), and syphilis (OR: 11.21; 95% CI: 6.7-18.9).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HIV-positive MSM have a higher seroprevalence rate of HBV and HCV infection than HIV-negative MSM in Taiwan. Vaccination and safe-sex counseling should be provided to prevent the transmission of hepatitis viruses among MSM who may be engaged in high-risk behaviors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Traumatology, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yu-Tzu
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Tseng
authors.forename: Hsin-Yun
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Sui-Yuan
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Cheng-Hsin
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Wen-Chun
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Pei-Ying
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Ching-Lan
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Chia-Yin
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.forename: Chien-Ching
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Hung
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology; D017957:Hepatitis A Virus, Human / Q000276:immunology; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens