Viral co-infections in heterosexual, HIV infected persons.

PANDO MA; REY J; MARTINEZ PERALTA L; SCHVACHSA N; SALOMON H; GOMEZ CARRILLO M; VIGNOLES M; AVILA MM

Barcelona

Conferencia; XIV International AIDS Conference.; 2002

IAS

Background: Due to shared routes of transmission, HCV, HBV, HTLV-I and II and HIV co-infection are common, particularly in injection-drug users (IDUs). The spread of HIV and other viruses in heterosexual population who are IDUs has become an important public health problem in Argentina.   The objective of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and Human T-Lymphotropic Virus Type I and II (HTLV-I and II) in a heterosexual HIV positive population from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Methods: Heterosexual female patients and their male partner with confirmed HIV diagnosis were included in the study. Informed consent and questionnaires regarding epidemiological data were completed. A sample of anticoagulated blood was collected for HCV, HBV and HTLV-I and II diagnosis. Results: A total of 176 samples of heterosexual HIV positive population were analyzed. 135 were female and 41 were their male partners. The average age was 26 and 30, respectively.  Seroprevalence in women was: 27.4 % (31/113) for HVC, 1.8% (2/113) for HBV and 3.7% (5/135) for HTLV-I and II. Data analysis showed that 68% (77/113) had only HIV infection, 30% (34/113) had HIV and other virus (29 HCV, 2 HBV and 3 HTLV-I/II) and 1.8% (2/113) had HIV and two other viruses. In men, the seroprevalence was 42.9% (12/28) for HCV, 10.7% (3/28) for HBV and 7.3% (3/41) for HTLV-I/II. Among those who declared past or present injecting drug use (20 women and 17 men) 79% of women and 77% of men were HCV positive.  Conclusion: For most viruses, seroprevalence was higher, but not significantly, in men that in women. In women, HCV infection was significantly associated with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) (p<0.04), use of drugs (any route) (p<0.000), intravenous drug use (IDU) (p<0.000), and sexual relations in exchange for money, food or drugs (p<0.04). In men, HCV infection was only significantly associated with IDU (p<0.000). Data analysis shows a high prevalence of HCV infection in heterosexual HIV positive population, strongly associated with IDU.