Prevalence of hepatitis B and C in the sera of patients with HIV infection in São Paulo, Brazil

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of hepatitis B and C viruses in a group of HIV infected patients, followed at a single institution since 1996. 1,693 HIV positive patients (1,162 male, 531 female) were tested for HBV infection. Virological markers for HBV included HBsAg and total anti-HBc by ELISA. 1,457 patients (1,009 male, 448 female) were tested for HCV infection. Detection of HCV antibodies was carried out by ELISA. A sample of HCV antibody positive patients was tested for HCV by PCR to confirm infection. Of 1,693 patients tested for HBV, 654 (38.6 per cent) and 96 (5.7 per cent) were anti-HBc and HBsAg positive, respectively. Of 1,457 patients tested for HCV, 258 (17.7 per cent) were anti-HCV positive. 82 of these patients were also tested by PCR and 81 were positive (98 per cent). Of 1,411 patients tested for HBV and HCV 26 (1.8 per cent) were positive for both viruses.