title: Low Prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus Infection Among HIV-Positive Patients: Data From a Large-Scale Cohort Study in Istanbul, Turkey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rate of coinfection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) varies in different countries. This may be attributable to common transmission routes as well as social, economic, and cultural factors.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of HCV infection among HIV-positive patients in Istanbul, Turkey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Since January 2006 to November 2013, 949 HIV-positive patients that were enrolled in this study by ACTHIV-IST (Action Against HIV in Istanbul) Study Group, which consists of five centers to follow up HIV-positive patients in Istanbul. Epidemiologic and clinical data were collected retrospectively from medical records and were transferred to an HIV database system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 949 patients, 84% were men and the mean age was 37.92 ± 11.54 years (range, 17-79). The most frequent route of transmission was heterosexual intercourse (48.8%), followed by men having sex with men (30.5%). Only nine patients (0.9%) had history of injection drug use (IDU). The prevalence of HIV/HCV coinfection was 0.9% (9:949). The IDU rate was 44.4% (4:9) in patients with HIV/HCV coinfection (three of them were not Turkish citizens), whereas this rate was only 0.6% (5:881) in patients with only HIV infection (P < 0.01). Genotypes 1b, 2a/2c, and 3 were determined in five, one, and two patients, respectively. Genotype could not be determined in one patient. History of residence in a foreign country (P < 0.01) and imprisonment (P < 0.01) were also considered as risk factors in terms of HIV/HCV coinfection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prevalence of HIV/HCV coinfection is considerably low in Turkey. The extremely rare prevalence of IDU might have a role in this low prevalence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Haseki Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ozlem Altuntas
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Aydin
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mucahit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yemisen
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Haseki Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hayat Kumbasar
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Karaosmanoglu
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Goztepe Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul Medeniyet University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Fatma
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sargin
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Sisli Etfal Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Alper
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gunduz
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Medical Faculty, Bezmialem Vakif University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Bahadir
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ceylan
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Bilgul
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mete
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Goztepe Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul Medeniyet University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nail
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ozgunes
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Sisli Etfal Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Dilek Yildiz
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Sevgi
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Resat
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ozaras
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Fehmi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tabak
keywords: Hepatitis C Virus; Human Immunodeficiency Virus; Prevalence; Turkey