Prevalence of hepatitis viruses in an anti-human immunodeficiency virus-positive population from Argentina. A multicentre study

The objectives of this study were to investigate the prevalence of infectio ns with hepatotrophic viruses in an anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) -positive population from Buenos Aires and to compare it among the main ris k groups for HIV infection. Four hundred and eighty-four consecutive patien ts attending the HIV outpatients clinic were studied: 359 men and 125 women , median age 29 years (range 16-67 years); 35.5% had presented acquired imm une deficiency syndrome (AIDS)-defining conditions, Two hundred and thirty- four patients were intravenous drug users (IVDU), 99 had homosexual and 142 heterosexual preference, seven had received blood transfusions and two had no risk factors, Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and antibodies to he patitis B core antigen (HBcAb) and to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) were inv estigated in all patients: antibodies to HBsAg (HBsAb) and IgG antibodies t o hepatitis D virus (anti-HDV) in all HBcAb-positive patients; hepatitis B e antigen and antibodies to HBeAg (HBeAg) in all HBsAg-positive patients; I gG antibodies to hepatitis A virus (anti-HAV) in the first 307 patients; an d IgG antibodies to hepatitis E virus (anti-HEV) in the first 91 patients, As control groups, contemporary voluntary blood donors were studied for pre valence of HAV, HBV, HCV and HEV, The percentages of HBcAb, HBsAg, anti-HCV and anti-HEV (58.5, 14.5, 58.5 and 6.6%, respectively) were significantly higher in anti HIV-positive patients than in control groups (3.2, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.8%, respectively) (P = 0.000), The prevalence of HBcAb was significan tly higher in IVDU (72.6%) than in heterosexuals (33.8%) (P = 0.0001) and i n homosexuals (59.6%) (P = 0.0189). The percentage of HBsAg was significant ly higher in IVDU (19.2%) than in heterosexuals (6.3%) (P = 0.0004). Anti-H CV was significantly higher in IVDU (92.3%) than in homosexuals (14.1%) and in heterosexuals (33.1%) (P = 0.000 in both cases), The prevalence of anti -HDV was relatively low (1.9%), There was no difference in the percentage o f anti-HIV between HIV-positive and negative subjects. In conclusion, there is a high prevalence of HBV and HCV infections in HIV-positive patients fr om our area. Drug use is the main route of transmission, but prevalence of HCV in patients with, probably, sexually acquired HIV infection is also hig her than in the control group. The increased prevalence of HEV infection in HIV-positive individuals is another provocative finding that warrants furt her study.