Wachtler M, Frosner G, Nitschko H, Muller G, Karwat M, Emmingger CH, Eichenlaub D; International Conference on AIDS.
Int Conf AIDS. 1998; 12: 312 (abstract no. 22250).
KHS. Munchen-Schwabing, Germany.
BACKGROUND: The transmission of GBV-C/HGV occurs through parenteral routes. The role of sexual transmission and seroprevalence in HIV-infected patients is unknown. Therefore we studied prevalence and risk factors of infection in homosexual men in all stages of HIV-infection. METHODS: We surveyed 59 males, aged 24-75 years, of our outpatient clinic from 4/97 to 9/97. The route of HIV-infection was homosexual behaviour in all patients. Careful history of veneral diseases was done and former blood-transfusions or intravenous drug abuse were excluded. We analysed GBV-C/HGV in serum by nested PCR in the NS3-region. All samples were analysed by routine methods for ALT, gamma-GT, counts of CD4-positive lymphocytes, HIV-RNA (quantitatively), HBs-Ag, HBs, Anti-HBc, Anti-HCV and serological marks of syphilis. Statistical analysis was performed by Mann-Whitney-Test or Fisher's exact test, respectively. RESULTS: 16/59 (27%) were GBV-C-positive. The difference to the seroprevalence of 2.3% in the control-group (blood-donors in Southern Bavaria) was significant (P < 0.001, OR 15.7). Compared to the GBV-C-negative group, the GBV-C-positive-patients were younger: mean age (years) 38.25 (+)- 8.3 vs. 46 (+)- 10.8 (two-tailed P-value < 0.01). For all other variables, no differences (P > 0.05) were found between the group of GBV-C-positive and group of GBV-C negative patients. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of GBV-C in homosexual HIV-patients is markedly higher than in blood-donors. GBV-C-infection is not associated with hepatitis and is found in patients in all stages of HIV-infection. Younger age is a risk factor for GBV-C-infection, probably due to age-dependent differences in homosexual practices.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- AIDS Vaccines
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Alanine Transaminase
- Blood Donors
- Communicable Diseases
- GB virus C
- HIV
- HIV Infections
- HIV Seropositivity
- Homosexuality
- Homosexuality, Male
- Humans
- Male
- Prevalence
- Risk Factors
- Seroepidemiologic Studies
- Substance Abuse, Intravenous
Other ID:
UI: 102228289
From Meeting Abstracts