Back to Search
Start Over
Scaling up epidemics of acute hepatitis C and syphilis in HIV-infected men who have sex with men in Spain.
- Source :
-
Liver international : official journal of the International Association for the Study of the Liver [Liver Int] 2013 Oct; Vol. 33 (9), pp. 1357-62. Date of Electronic Publication: 2013 Jun 03. - Publication Year :
- 2013
-
Abstract
- Background: Outbreaks of acute hepatitis C in HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM) are being reported in large cities in western countries along with increasing rates of sexually transmitted diseases.<br />Methods: All HIV individuals attended at a large outclinic in Madrid within the last 5 years were examined. Incident syphilis was diagnosed based on rapid plasma reagin (RPR) reactivity, being negative previously or showing >4-fold increase. Acute hepatitis C was diagnosed based on HCV antibody seroconversion and/or positive serum HCV-RNA after being negative within the last year.<br />Results: A total of 859 episodes of syphilis and 19 of acute hepatitis C were diagnosed during the study period. Syphilis was recognized in 65/2,094 (3.1%) individuals attended in 2008 and rose up to 261/2,512 (10.4%) in 2012 (P < 0.001). Acute hepatitis C was diagnosed in only one subject in 2008 but rose up to 7 in 2012 (P = 0.12). All 19 HIV patients with acute hepatitis C were MSM. Syphilis was diagnosed concomitantly in seven. All eight individuals who were treated with peginterferon/ribavirin were cured, whereas only one untreated experienced spontaneous clearance (P = 0.004). Two clusters of infections by HCV genotypes 4 and 1a were identified by phylogenetic analyses.<br />Conclusions: The incidence of acute hepatitis C is low but steadily increasing in HIV-positive MSM in Madrid (<1% yearly), despite the very high rates of syphilis (currently 20% yearly in HIV-positive MSM). Preventive measures for sexually transmitted infections and periodic HCV screening are warranted in this population as treatment of acute hepatitis C is very effective.<br /> (© 2013 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)
- Subjects :
- Base Sequence
Cluster Analysis
Hepacivirus genetics
Hepatitis C diagnosis
Hepatitis C etiology
Humans
Incidence
Male
Molecular Sequence Data
Phylogeny
Reagins blood
Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
Sequence Analysis, DNA
Spain epidemiology
Syphilis diagnosis
Syphilis etiology
Viral Nonstructural Proteins genetics
HIV Infections complications
HIV Infections epidemiology
Hepatitis C epidemiology
Homosexuality, Male statistics & numerical data
Syphilis epidemiology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1478-3231
- Volume :
- 33
- Issue :
- 9
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Liver international : official journal of the International Association for the Study of the Liver
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 23730876
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1111/liv.12212