Preliminary research on the co-infection of human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis virus in intravenous drug users
Wu, N.; Li, D.; Zhu, B.; Zou, W.
Chinese Medical Journal 116(9): 1318-1320
2003
ISSN/ISBN: 0366-6999 PMID: 14527356 Document Number: 554443
Objective: To confirm the close relationship of high coinfection rate between HIV and hepatitis virus in intravenous drug users (IVDUs) [China]. Methods: The plasma of 35 HIV-positive scattered IVDUs was collected during January 1996-June 1997. Anti-HIV, HBV and HCV were detected by ELISA in the serum of 35 scattered and 15 massed IVDUs. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and reverse transcriptase-PCR were performed to confirm the infection of HIV, HBV, HCV, HGV and TTV among the 15 massed IVDUs. Results: Among the 50 IVDUs, the positive rates of anti-HCV, HBsAg, anti-HBe and anti-HBc were 92% (46/50), 12% (6/50), 10% (5/50) and 66% (33/50), respectively. In HBsAg positive samples, their HBeAg was also positive. Although the positive rate of serum markers was different in the massed IVDUs compared to the scattered IVDUs, no significant difference was shown. In massed IVDUs, the positive rates of HIV DNA, HBV-DNA, HCV-RNA, HGV-RNA and TTV-DNA were 100% (15/15), 26.6% (4/15), 53.3% (8/15), 33.3% (5/15) and 26.6% (4/15), respectively. Among the 15 massed IVDUs, one was infected with HIV, HBV, HCV, HGV and TTV; 2 were infected with HIV, HBV, HCV and HGV; 3 were infected only with HIV; and the remaining had other forms of coinfection. Conclusion: The coinfection rate of HIV, HBV, HCV, HGV and TTV in IVDUs is very high.