Frequency of HIV and HCV Co-Infections in Chronic HBV Patients Referred to Taleghani Hospital, Tehran, Iran from 2006 to 2010

authors:

avatar Seyed Mohammad Ebrahim Tahaei 1 , avatar Seyed Reza Mohebbi ORCID 2 , * , avatar Pedram Azimzadeh 1 , avatar Mohsen Vahedi 1 , avatar Shohreh Almasi 1 , avatar Sara Romani 1 , avatar Afsaneh Sharifian 1 , avatar Faramarz Derakhshan 1 , avatar Mohammad Reza Zali 1

Research Center for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, IR Iran
Research Center for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, srmohebbi@gmail.com, IR Iran
Hepatitis Monthly: Vol.11, issue 12; 993-996
article type: Brief Report
received: June 18, 2011
accepted: July 20, 2011
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5812/kowsar.1735143X.740

how to cite: Ebrahim Tahaei S M, Mohebbi S, Azimzadeh P, Vahedi M, Almasi S, et al. Frequency of HIV and HCV Co-Infections in Chronic HBV Patients Referred to Taleghani Hospital, Tehran, Iran from 2006 to 2010. Hepat Mon. 2011;11(12): 993-996. https://doi.org/10.5812/kowsar.1735143X.740.

Abstract

Background: Co-infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and/or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection can alter the course of the disease.
Objectives: In this study, we investigated the frequency of HIV and/or HCV co-infection in chronic HBV patients and related risk factors in acquiring the HCV and or HIV co-infectionit.
Patients and Methods: We studied 264 chronic HBV patients who visited the Gastrointestinal and Liver Ward of the Taleghani Hospital, Tehran, Iran between 2006 and 2010. Demographic information and records of possible risky behavior were obtained. Antibodies against HBV, HCV, and HIV, levels of alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST), and conversion from hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) to hepatitis B e antibody (HBeAb) were evaluated.
Results: Of 264 patients with chronic HBV in this study, 184 patients (70%) were men and 78 patients (30%) were women. Only 1 patient (0.37%) was positive for anti-HIV antibody, whereas 12 patients (4.54%) were positive for anti-HCV antibody. None of the patients had co-infection with all 3 viruses (HBV, HIV, and HCV).
Conclusions: This study demonstrated that the prevalence of HCV is higher than that of HIV in chronic HBV patients. Since HCV or HIV co-infection affects the therapeutic outcome in chronic HBV patients, testing for HIV and HCV is recommended, especially for patients with a history of risky behavior.

Implication for health policy/practice/research/medical education:
Readers of this manuscript will realize that Hepatitis C virus and Human Immunodeficiency virus co-infections have important impacts on the management of hepatitis B chronic patients. In addition this study will attract the attention of health policy-makers towards some routes of infection transfer like periodontal procedures, which generally are ignored, but need to be monitored more strictly.

Please cite this paper as:
Tahaei SMe, Mohebbi SR, Azimzadeh p, Vahedi M, Almasi S, Romani S, et al. Frequency of HIV and HCV Co-Infections in Chronic HBV patients Referred to Taleghani Hospital, Tehran, Iran from 2006 to 2010. Hepat Mon. 2011;11(12):993-6. DoI: 10.5812/kowsar.1735143X.740

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