Viral hepatitis in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus

• Published in: The Brazilian journal of infectious diseases Vol. 7; no. 4; pp. 253 - 261
• Main Authors: Pavan Maria Helena P., Aoki Francisco Hideo, Monteiro Dinaida Teresa, Gonçales Neiva Sellan L., Escanhoela Cecília Amélia F., Gonçales Júnior Fernando L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 01-01-2003
• Subjects: alanine aminotransferase quotient; anti-hepatitis A antibody; anti-hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc); hepatitis B surface antigen; Hepatitis C virus; human immunodeficiency virus
• ISSN: 1413-8670; 1678-4391

From 1992 to 1995 we studied 232 (69% male, 87% Caucasian) anti-human immunodeficiency virus (anti-HIV) positive Brazilian patients, through a questionnaire; HIV had been acquired sexually by 50%, from blood by 32%, sexually and/or from blood by 16.4% and by an unknown route by 1.7%. Intravenous drug use was reported by 29%; it was the most important risk factor for HIV transmission. The alanine aminotransferase quotient (qALT) was >1 for 40% of the patients, 93.6% had anti-hepatitis A virus antibody, 5.3% presented hepatitis B surface antigen, 44% were anti-hepatitis B core antigen positive and 53.8% were anti-hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) positive. The anti-HCV test showed a significant association with qALT>1. Patients for whom the probable HIV transmission route was blood had a 10.8 times greater risk of being anti-HCV positive than patients infected by other routes. Among 30 patients submitted to liver biopsy, 18 presented chronic hepatitis.