Co-Infection by Hepatitis C Virus in HIV-Infected Patients in Southern Brazil: Genotype Distribution and Clinical Correlates

Fernando H Wolff,Flávio D Fuchs,Sandra C Fuchs,Nêmora N T Barcellos,Maria Letícia R Ikeda,Paulo Ricardo De Alencastro,Ajácio B M Brandão,Maicon Falavigna,John E Tavis

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0010494

Abstract

BackgroundPrevalence rates of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) co-infection, the distribution of HCV genotypes, and the frequency of spontaneous resolution of hepatitis C in patients infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) have a worldwide disparity. The purpose of this study is to investigate the prevalence of HCV antibodies (anti-HCV) in patients with HIV, the proportion and correlates of infection by different HCV genotypes, and rates of spontaneous resolution of HCV infection.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among 1143 HIV patients under follow-up in a HIV/AIDS outpatient reference center of the Brazilian public health system. From 357 anti-HCV positive patients, a consecutive sample of 227 individuals HCV treatment-naïve was interviewed and 207 was tested for HCV-RNA and genotypes.ResultsAnti-HCV was detected in 357 patients (31.2%). HCV-RNA was undetectable in 16.4% of 207 anti-HCV positive individuals. Genotype 1 was diagnosed in 81.5% of the sample, genotype 2 in 1.7% and genotype 3 in 16.2%. Male gender was the unique characteristic associated with higher prevalence of genotype 1 HCV.ConclusionsCo-infection by HCV is frequent among patients with HIV in our State, and it is particularly high the infection by HCV genotype 1. Further investigation is necessary to explain the important regional variation in the proportion of infection by the different HCV genotypes and to better understand rates of spontaneous HCV clearance.

Highlights

It has been estimated that 38.6 million people are infected by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) worldwide, and 4–5 million are infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) [1]
In Brazil, about 0.5% of the adult population is infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) [1] and among those attending the public health services, 16% HIVHCV co-infection rate had been reported in outpatient care centers [2,3], 42% in HIV-Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) anonymous testing centers [4], and 54% for patients HIV infected in infectious diseases clinics [5]
This study investigated the prevalence of HCV antibodies in patients with HIV, the proportion and correlates of infection by different HCV genotypes, and rates of undetectable

Summary

Introduction

It has been estimated that 38.6 million people are infected by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) worldwide, and 4–5 million are infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) [1]. [6] While treatment of HIV-HCV co-infected patients has lower rates of sustained virological response (SVR), it might be complicated by adverse effects and drug interaction. This study investigated the prevalence of HCV antibodies (antiHCV) in patients with HIV, the proportion and correlates of infection by different HCV genotypes, and rates of undetectable. Prevalence rates of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) co-infection, the distribution of HCV genotypes, and the frequency of spontaneous resolution of hepatitis C in patients infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) have a worldwide disparity. The purpose of this study is to investigate the prevalence of HCV antibodies (anti-HCV) in patients with HIV, the proportion and correlates of infection by different HCV genotypes, and rates of spontaneous resolution of HCV infection

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion