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World J Gastroenterol. Nov 14, 2006; 12(42): 6879-6883
Published online Nov 14, 2006. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v12.i42.6879
Hepatitis B and C virus co-infections in human immunodeficiency virus positive North Indian patients
Swati Gupta, Sarman Singh
Swati Gupta, Sarman Singh, Division of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Sarman Singh, MD, FAMS, Department of Laboratory Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi 110029, India. sarman_singh@yahoo.com
Telephone: +91-11-26588484 Fax: +91-11-26588641
Received: August 28, 2006
Revised: September 23, 2006
Accepted: September 28, 2006
Published online: November 14, 2006
Abstract

AIM: To determine the prevalence of hepatitis B and C virus infections in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) -positive patients at a tertiary care hospital in New Delhi, India.

METHODS: Serum samples from 451 HIV positive patients were analyzed for HBsAg and HCV antibodies during three years (Jan 2003-Dec 2005). The control group comprised of apparently healthy bone-marrow and renal donors.

RESULTS: The study population comprised essentially of heterosexually transmitted HIV infection. The prevalence rate of HBsAg in this population was 5.3% as compared to 1.4% in apparently healthy donors (P < 0.001). Though prevalence of HCV co-infection (2.43%) was lower than HBV in this group of HIV positive patients, the prevalence was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than controls (0.7%). Triple infection of HIV, HBV and HCV was not detected in any patient.

CONCLUSION: Our study shows a significantly high prevalence of hepatitis virus infections in HIV infected patients. Hepatitis viruses in HIV may lead to faster progression to liver cirrhosis and a higher risk of antiretroviral therapy induced hepatotoxicity. Therefore, it would be advisable to detect hepatitis virus co-infections in these patients at the earliest.

Keywords: Human immunodeficiency virus; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis C; Hepatitis B surface antigen; Co-infections