HIV may enhance sexual transmission of hepatitis C

[Guest guest]

HIV may enhance sexual transmission of hepatitis C

31st December, 2001

Sex Transm Dis 2001;28:725-729 - Abstract

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - From a study of subjects with no history of IV

drug use or blood transfusion, Italian researchers report that the sexual

transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) may be favored by the presence of

HIV infection.

Dr. Pietro Filippini, from the Second University of Naples, and colleagues

assessed the prevalence of hepatitis in 106 consecutive anti-HIV-positive

men and women and in 212 anti-HIV-negative controls, all of whom had a

history of homosexual or heterosexual activity.

As reported in the December issue of Sexually Transmitted Diseases, a

similar number of cases and controls tested positive (4.7% versus 2.4%) for

hepatitis B surface antigen. More cases (33.9%) than controls (15.6%) tested

positive for anti-hepatitis B core antigen (p = 0.0003), the researchers

found.

More cases were also positive for anti-HCV compared with controls (15.1%

versus 5.2%, p = 0.005).

For those who had heterosexual or homosexual intercourse with a steady

partner who was HIV positive, 18.7% of the 32 cases and 1.6% of the 64

controls were anti-HCV positive (p = 0.008), the investigators note.

" It can be concluded that the sexual transmission of HCV is rare in the

general population, but that HIV plays a helper role in the sexual

transmission of HCV, probably as a result of immunodepression favoring HCV

replication, " Dr. Filippini and colleagues comment.

Hugs,

Sheree

[Guest guest]

HIV may enhance sexual transmission of hepatitis C

31st December, 2001

Sex Transm Dis 2001;28:725-729 - Abstract

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - From a study of subjects with no history of IV

drug use or blood transfusion, Italian researchers report that the sexual

transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) may be favored by the presence of

HIV infection.

Dr. Pietro Filippini, from the Second University of Naples, and colleagues

assessed the prevalence of hepatitis in 106 consecutive anti-HIV-positive

men and women and in 212 anti-HIV-negative controls, all of whom had a

history of homosexual or heterosexual activity.

As reported in the December issue of Sexually Transmitted Diseases, a

similar number of cases and controls tested positive (4.7% versus 2.4%) for

hepatitis B surface antigen. More cases (33.9%) than controls (15.6%) tested

positive for anti-hepatitis B core antigen (p = 0.0003), the researchers

found.

More cases were also positive for anti-HCV compared with controls (15.1%

versus 5.2%, p = 0.005).

For those who had heterosexual or homosexual intercourse with a steady

partner who was HIV positive, 18.7% of the 32 cases and 1.6% of the 64

controls were anti-HCV positive (p = 0.008), the investigators note.

" It can be concluded that the sexual transmission of HCV is rare in the

general population, but that HIV plays a helper role in the sexual

transmission of HCV, probably as a result of immunodepression favoring HCV

replication, " Dr. Filippini and colleagues comment.

Hugs,

Sheree