Human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C virus  coinfection in Nepal.
OBJECTIVE
The study aimed at finding prevalence, mode of transmission, and pattern of CD4 cell count among hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfected human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive individuals in Nepal.


METHODS
This was a descriptive cross-sectional study carried out in three Volunteer Counseling and Testing clinics, one from Dharan and two from Kathmandu, Nepal. Three hundred and thirteen individuals were recruited.


RESULTS
Forty-two percent of HIV-infected persons had HCV coinfection. Significant associations with HIV and HCV coinfection were male gender (p <0.001) and injection drug use (IDU) (p <0.001). The mean CD4 cell count was significantly lower in HCV coinfected individuals, compared to those without coinfection, after 1.5 years (p =0.017), 2 years (p =0.0457), 3 years (p =0.011), and 3.5 years (p <0.001) of antiretroviral therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
HCV coinfection was common in HIV-infected individuals in Nepal and was associated with male gender, IDU, and lower CD4 counts.
School of Public Health and Community Medicine, B P Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal. satishprasadbarnawal@gmail.com
Satish Prasad
SP
Barnawal
Surya Raj
SR
Niraula
Anand Kumar
AK
Agrahari
Nikesh
N
Bista
Nilambar
N
Jha
Paras Kumar
PK
Pokharel
D000328:Adult; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D060085:Coinfection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009390:Nepal / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous; D013997:Time Factors
D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents