title: Hepatitis C prevalence among HIV-infected patients in Guinea-Bissau: a descriptive cross-sectional study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the prevalence and determine the clinical presentation of risk factors of hepatitis C virus (HCV) among HIV-infected patients in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional study, we included individuals who had a routine blood analysis performed during the period April 28 to September 30, 2011. Patient samples were tested for HCV antibodies (anti-HCV) with a chemiluminescence test (Architect, Abbott, USA) and INNO-LIA HCV Score (Innogenetics, Belgium). HCV viral load and genotype were analyzed using an in-house real-time PCR method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 576 patients were included (417 HIV-1, 104 HIV-2, and 55 HIV-1/2). Ten (1.7%) patients were anti-HCV-positive and eight (1.4%) patients had detectable HCV RNA; all were genotype 2. In a multivariable logistic regression analysis, age >50 years was associated with anti-HCV reactivity (p<0.01). No subjective symptoms or objective signs were more prevalent among patients with detectable HCV RNA compared to patients without detectable HCV RNA. Biochemically, detectable HCV RNA was associated with elevated amylase (83.3% vs. 38.6%, p=0.03), but not with the liver enzymes alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of anti-HCV was low and comparable to similar settings, and genotype analysis confirmed the presence of genotype 2 in West Africa.
authors.affiliation: Bandim Health Project, Indepth Network, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau; Department of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, Brendstrupgaardsvej 100, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark. Electronic address: bohonge@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Bo Langhoff
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Hønge
authors.affiliation: Bandim Health Project, Indepth Network, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau; Department of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, Brendstrupgaardsvej 100, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: Sanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jespersen
authors.affiliation: National HIV Programme, Ministry of Health, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau.
authors.forename: Candida
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Medina
authors.affiliation: National HIV Programme, Ministry of Health, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: da Silva Té
authors.affiliation: Bandim Health Project, Indepth Network, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau; National Public Health Laboratory, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau.
authors.forename: Zacarias José
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Alfred Hospital and Monash University, Australia; Centre for Biomedical Research, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Sharon R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Lewin
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, Brendstrupgaardsvej 100, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Østergaard
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, Brendstrupgaardsvej 100, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: Alex Lund
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Laursen
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Aalborg University Hospital, Denmark.
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Krarup
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Immunology, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Erikstrup
authors.affiliation: Bandim Health Project, Indepth Network, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau; Department of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, Brendstrupgaardsvej 100, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark; GloHAU, Centre for Global Health, School of Public Health, Aarhus University, Denmark.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wejse
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D060085:Coinfection / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006169:Guinea-Bissau / Q000453:epidemiology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies
keywords: Clinical presentation; Guinea-Bissau; HIV; Hepatitis C; Prevalence; Risk factor