Seroprevalence and risk factors of hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and human cytomegalovirus among HIV-infected and high-risk uninfected adolescents - Findings of the REACH study

Background and Objectives: In adolescents and young adults, multiple studie s have identified sexual activity and behaviors as significant risk factors for acquiring both human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV ), However, there are no reports on the prevalence or risk factors for infe ction of these viruses and hepatitis C virus (HCV) in an adolescent populat ion with sexually acquired HIV, Goals: To examine the seroprevalence and risk factors of HBV, HCV, and HCMV infection in a population of HIV-infected male and female adolescents and in an age- and risk behavior-matched HIV-uninfected cohort. Study Design: A cross-sectional analysis of HBV, HCV, and HCMV infections in a cohort of H IV-infected and HIV-uninfected adolescents, Results: Adolescent males infected with HIV were more likely to have eviden ce of HBV and HCMV infection than HIV-uninfected males (23.7% versus 0%, re spectively, for HBV, P = 0.008; 79.7% versus 50%, respectively, for HCMV, P = 0.004). HIV-infected females were more likely to have evidence of HCMV i nfection (78.5% versus 61.4%, P = 0.003) than HIV-uninfected females. No si gnificant difference was found for HBV infection in the two groups of femal es. The rate of HCV infection (1.6%) was too small to make comparisons betw een the groups, To determine whether the differences in infection rates for HBV and HCMV could be explained by factors other than HIV status, a variet y of possible risk factors were examined using univariate and multivariate analyses. A significant risk factor for HBV and HCMV infections for males w as a homosexual or bisexual orientation. For females, a risk factor for HBV infection was having more than 10 lifetime sexual partners; for HCMV infec tion, HIV infection was the only risk factor. In addition, in the HIV-infec ted cohort, 15% of females and 36% of males who were seropositive for HBV h ad evidence of active HBV infection, Conclusions: These results emphasize the need for continued development of primary and secondary prevention programs and clinical screening and treatm ent for HBV and HCMV in adolescents.