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Hepatitis C virus infection in a sexually active inner city population. The potential for heterosexual transmission

Hepatitis C Virus-Infektion in einer sexuell aktiven Innenstadtpopulation. Potential der heterosexuellen Übertragung

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Summary

The prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and associated risk factors in an inner city sexually active heterosexual population participating in a prospective study for the evaluation of heterosexual transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) were examined. Individuals with prior history of injection drug use or receipt of blood products were excluded from the study. Of 571 participants, 25 (4.4%) were seropositive for HCV, 39 (7%) for HIV, and 125 (22%) for hepatitis B virus (HBV). Multivariate analysis revealed that those with more than ten heterosexual partners in the past 5 years (OR=3.7; 95% CI=1.3, 10.2; P=0.01), engaging in sexual practices more than once per week (OR=3.3; 95% CI=1.1, 10.1; P=0.04), with antibody to hepatitis B core (HBc) antigen (OR=2.9; 95% CI=1.1, 7.4; P=0.03), and antibody to HIV-1 (OR=5.8; 95% CI=1.9; 17.6; P=0.002) were independently associated with HCV infection. These findings suggest that heterosexual transmission of HCV may occur in an inner city sexually active heterosexual population.

Zusammenfassung

Bei einer sexuell aktiven, heterosexuellen Innenstadtpopulation, die an einer prospcktiven Studie zur Frage der heterosexuellen Übertragung des menschlichen Immunschwächevirus Typ 1 (HIV-1) teilnahm, wurden die Prävalenz an Hepatitis C Virus-Infektionen und assoziierte Risikofaktoren untersucht. Personen, bei denen eine Vorgeschichte von intravenösem Drogengebrauch bestand oder die Blutprodukte erhalten hatten, wurden aus der Studie ausgeschlossen. Von 571 Teilnehmern der Studie waren 25 (4,4%) HCV-seropositiv, bei 39 (7%) fanden sich Antikörper gegen HIV und bei 125 (22%) gegen das Hepatitis B Virus (HBV). Die Multivarianzanalyse deckte auf, daß Personen, die in den vergangenen 5 Jahren mehr als 10 heterosexuelle Partner hatten, (OR=3,7; 95% CI=1,3; 10,2; p=0,01) mehr als einmal pro Woche sexuell aktiv waren, (OR=3,3; 95% CI=1,1; 10,1; p=0,04), Antikörper gegen Hepatitis B Core-Antigen (HBc) hatten (OR=2,9; 95% CI=1,1; 7,4; p=0,03), und Antikörper gegen HIV-1 aufwiesen (OR=5,8; 95% CI=1,9; 17,6; p=0,002) unabhängig mit HCV-Infektion assoziiert waren. Aus diesen Befunden läßt sich ableiten, daß es bei einer sexuell aktiven, heterosexuellen Innenstadtpopulation zur heterosexuellen Übertragung von HCV kommen kann.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Medicine (G. L. D., M. A. F.) and the Comprehensive AIDS Program (S. L.), University of Miami School of Medicine, P. O. Box 016960, 33101, Miami, Florida, USA

    G. L. Daikos M. D., S. Lai Ph. D., M. P. H. & M. A. Fischl M. D.

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  1. G. L. Daikos M. D.
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Daikos, G.L., Lai, S. & Fischl, M.A. Hepatitis C virus infection in a sexually active inner city population. The potential for heterosexual transmission. Infection 22, 72–76 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01739007

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