Hepatitis B, C and Hiv Co-Infections Seroprevalence in a Northeast Brazilian Center

Abstract

ContextThe occurrence of HIV and hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) virus associations is of great concern since co-infected patients respond poorly to antiviral treatment and usually progress to chronic and more complicated hepatic disease. In Brazil, these co-infections prevalence is not well known since published data are few and sometimes demonstrate conflicting results. Also, a significant number of co-infected individuals are HBV/HCV asymptomatic carriers, leading to under notification.ObjectivesThe present study aimed to determine the prevalence of the HBV and HCV infection in a recently diagnosed HIV population in the state of Ceará/Brazil.MethodsRetrospective cohort, with >18yo patients diagnosed HIV+ from 2008-2010. First year medical attention information was collected.ResultsA total of 1.291 HIV+ patients were included. HBV serologies were collected in 52% (23% had previous hepatitis B, 3.7% were co-infected) and HCV in 25.4% (1.5% had previous hepatitis C, 5.4% co-infection). The majority of HBV/HIV patients referred multiple sexual partners/year, 28% homosexualism and 20% bisexualism. In the HCV/HIV group 38.8% individuals had > one sexual partner/year and 22.2% used intravenous drugs.ConclusionThe study reinforce the need for better training healthcare workers and providing laboratory support for a prompt hepatitis diagnosis and adequate medical management to avoid complications and decrease viral spread.

Seroprevalence of HCV markers among HIV infected patients from Curitiba and metropolitan region

“…In relation to the frequency of HIV/HCV co-infection with regard to sex, there was a greater proportion of men (64.1%) compared to women (35.9%) among co-infected patients. Although the difference is not significant (p=0.06), these data are similar to those reported by Távora et al 32 in northeastern Brazil (77.8 and 22.2%, respectively) and Reiche et al 29 (71.1 and 28.9%, respectively) in Londrina (PR).…”

Hepatites B, C E Sífilis: Prevalência E Características Associadas À Coinfecção Entre Soropositivos

“…A associação HIV/HBV esteve presente em 19% do total de sorologias analisadas, revelando prevalência inferior à encontrada em investigações realizadas nas regiões Norte e Sul do país, onde as taxas detecção do HBV foram superiores a 23% (1)(2) . Resultados referente a uma investigação na região centro-oeste do país (5) evidenciaram que a prevalência desta coinfecção encontrada naquele ano foi de 33.5%, aproximadamente 1.8 vezes superior à encontrada nesta investigação, confirmando a variabilidade da coinfecção de acordo com o período, região geográfica, fatores de risco e de transmissão aos quais a população estudada estiver exposta.…”

“…Desde 1996, com a disponibilização gratuita da terapia antirretroviral (TARV) para o tratamento de pessoas infectadas pelo vírus da imunodeficiência humana (HIV), observou-se redução em 49% da taxa de mortalidade pela Síndrome da Imunodeficiência Adquirida (AIDS) e decréscimo das admissões hospitalares em 7,5 vezes, confirmando a eficácia da terapia instituída (2)(3) . Como resultado do aumento da expectativa e qualidade de vida proporcionada pela TARV, as coinfecções HIV/Hepatite B (HBV); HIV/Hepatite C (HCV) e HIV/Treponema pallidum (Sífilis), tornaram-se importantes fatores causais para a morbimortalidade entre indivíduos soropositivos (4) .…”

Hepatitis C Virus and Hepatitis C-Infection

“…(57) Blood safety has been changing since HIV outbreak in 1980´s, and many parts of the world, the NAT became reliable way to decrease blood-borne infectious diseases. (58) The IDU´s are considered to be the main risk group for HCV infection acting as a source of this infection because the use of injecting drugs correlates strongly with HCV infection in the entire world. IDU's infected at an early age become an important reservoir beyond the higher risk of HIV co-infection or other parenterally transmitted viruses, which make HCV more difficult to eliminate.…”