Low Prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus Infection Among HIV-Positive Patients: Data From a Large-Scale Cohort Study in Istanbul, Turkey

Abstract

Background: Rate of coinfection with human immunodeficiencyvirus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) varies indifferent countries.This may be attributable to common transmission routes as well as social, economic and cultural factors. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of HCV infection among HIV-positive patients in Istanbul, Turkey. Patients and Methods: Since January 2006 to November 2m3, 949 HIV-positive patients that were enrolled in this study by ACTHIV-IST (Action Against HIV in Istanbul) Study Group, which consists of five centers to follow up HIV-positive patients in Istanbul. Epidemiologic and clinical data were collected retrospectively from medical records and were transferred to an HIV database system. Results:Among 949 patients, 84% were men and the mean age was 37.92 11.54 years (range,17-79).The most frequent route of transmission was heterosexual intercourse (48.8%), followed by men having sexwith men (30.5%).Only nine patients (0.9%) had history of injection drug use (IDU). The prevalence of HIV/FICV coinfection was 0.9%(9:949).The IDU rate was 44.4%(4.9) in patients with HIV/HCV coinfection (three of them were notTurkish citizens), whereas this rate was only 0.6%(5:881) in patients with only HIV infection (P< 0.01). Genotypes lb, 2a/2c, and 3 were determined in five, one, and two patients, respectively Genotype could not be determined in one patient. History of residence in a foreign country (P <0.01) and imprisonment (P< 0.01) were also considered as risk factors in terms of HIV/HCV coinfection. Conclusions: Prevalence of HIV/HCV coinfection is considerably low in Turkey. The extremely rare prevalence of IDU might have a role in this low prevalence.