Hepatitis-C and hepatitis-B co-infections in patients with human immunodeficiency virus in Tehran, Iran

ABSTRACT

We carried out a study to determine the seroprevalence of HBV and HCV infections in HIV positive patients at a main referral center for HIV/AIDS in Iran. Serum samples from 201 HIV positive patients referring to a referral center for HIV/AIDS were analyzed for the presence of some hepatitis B [HBsAg, anti-HBc, anti-HBs] and Hepatitis C [anti-HCV] markers, during 2004- 2005. HBsAg was positive in 27 patients [13.4%], anti-HBc was positive in 60 patients [29.8%] and anti-HBs in 23 patients [11.4%]. Anti-HCV Ab was positive in 135 of 201 [67.2%]. HBV and HCV coinfection was observed in 73 of 201 [36.3%]. The maximum prevalence of HBV-HIV and HCV-HIV coinfections were seen in intravenous drug users; 61.2% and 85.1%, respectively [P<0.0001]. The minimum prevalence of HBV-HIV and HCV-HIV were seen in HIV patients wife [HIV+ patients who were infected by monogamous sexual contact with their HIV positive husband] both of them were 8% [P<0.0001]. This study showed that HBV-HIV and HCV-HIV coinfections are significant in patients with HIV/AIDS in Iran. A greater relevance was observed in the association between HCV and HIV. This study suggests that it is necessary to investigate risk factors and risk groups for these infections in Iran