The prevalence of hepatitis B and C in HIV-positive Greek patients: Relationship to survival of deceased AIDS patients

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of hepatitis viruses B (HBV) and C (HCV) co-infections in HIV-infected patients and the overall impact of thes e co-infections on deceased AIDS patients survival. Methods: One hundred and eighty-one patients (159 males, 22 females) infect ed with HIV attending an academic AIDS unit in Athens, Greece, constituted the study population. The study population consisted of 124 homo/bisexual m en, 34 hetrosexuals, 12 intravenous drug users (IDU) and 11 blood transfusi on recipients. Virological markers tested for HBV infection included HBsAg, anti-NBs and total anti-HBc by enzyme-linked immunoassays. Detection of HC V antibodies was carried out by third generation enzyme-linked immunoassay: and repeatedly positive samples were further tested by a supplemental enzy me-linked immunoassay; only sera reactive by both methods were considered t o be HCV-positive, Results: The prevalence of HBV markers was 67.4%: 71.8% in homo/bisexuals, 35.3% in heterosexuals, 91.7% in IDUs and 90.9% in blood transfusion recipi ents (P=0.00004), The prevalence of HCV antibodies was 13.8%: 8.1% in homo/ bisexuals, 8.8% in heterosexuals, 58.3% in IDU and 45.5% in blood transfusi on recipients (P<0.000001), The prevalence of HCV antibodies was not signif icantly higher in homo/bisexuals than in heterosexuals (P = 0.8), Coinfecti on with HBV or HCV, or both, did not influence the survival of deceased AID S patients (n = 73). Conclusions: HBV infection was equally prevalent among homo/bisexuals and I DU with HIV infection, whereas HCV infection was more prevalent in IDU than in homo/bisexuals with HIV infection. The prevalence of HCV infection was equal among heterosexuals and homo/bisexuals, indicating that if sexual tra nsmission of HCV occurs, homo/bisexuals are not at greater risk than hetero sexuals. Finally, the survival of deceased AIDS patients was not affected b y the presence of HBV and HCV co-infections. (C) 2000 The British Infection Society.