|
9th Annual Conference Of The British HIV Association [BHIVA]24 – 26 April 2003, University of Manchester
|
[AUTHOR(S):] RE Browne, D Asboe, YC Gilleece, MC Atkins, S Mandalia, BG Gazzard and MR Nelson
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, UK
BHIVA Conf 2003 Apr 24-26;9:O16
BACKGROUND: To evaluate changes in acute hepatitis C virus (HCV) seroconversion and risk factors for acquisition of HCV within a dedicated HIV/genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic.
METHODS: We identified acute seroconverters for HCV from our sexual health and HIV cohort between January 1997 and December 2002. Demographic, clinical and risk factor data were analysed.
RESULTS: 28 patients were identified, 26 of whom were HIV-positive. There was a statistically significant increase in the incidence of documented HCV seroconversion, test for trend P<0.001. The only identifiable risk factor was unprotected sexual intercourse in 20 individuals. Four patients had a history of current intravenous drug use (IDU). Nine individuals were diagnosed with infectious syphilis in the year preceding HCV seroconversion, including three who were diagnosed with HCV and syphilis concurrently. 18 patients had asymptomatic seroconversion and the sole reason for HCV testing was to investigate abnormal liver function tests. There was a statistically significant increase in the number of patients testing positive for HCV in our clinical cohort but no increase in the total number of patients having HCV tests. This makes it unlikely that our observations are due to a lowered threshold for testing.
CONCLUSIONS: The high number of individuals reporting unsafe sex, low documented IDU and a high rate of concomitant syphilis infection suggests that sexual transmission is fuelling a significant increase in HCV seroconversion.
PRESENTING AUTHOR: RE Browne
030424
O16
Copyright © 2003 - British HIV Association (BHIVA) Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the BHIVA Organising Secretariat 1 Mountview Court, 310 Friern Barnet Lane, London N20 0LD