Prévalence des marqueurs sérologiques du VHC et du VHB dans la Cohorte Aquitaine de patients infectés par le VIH

We have estimated the prevalence of antibodies against HCV and HBV in a population of 2 957 HIV-infected patients enrolled in the Aquitaine Cohort and who have been followed since June 1991. Anti-HCV tests were performed by ELISA and RIBA tests of second or third generation. The study sample (n = 1 935) is made of the patients whose serologic status is determined for both HBV and HCV. In this sample, 823 patients (42.5 %) are anti-HCV positive. With regard to HBV markers, 133 patients (6.9%) are carriers of HBs Ag, 584 (30.2 %) show a combination of anti-HBc and anti-HBs antibody without HBs Ag, 507 (26.2 %) are carriers of anti-HBc antibody alone and 92 (4.8 %) of anti-HBs antibody alone. The prevalence of anti-HCV antibody is particularly high in the HIV parenteral transmission group. The prevalence of HBV markers other than anti-HBs antibody alone is the highest in the homosexual group. In the HIV parenteral transmission group, the prevalence of the HBV markers is the highest when the anti-HCV antibodies are detected. On the other hand, in the sexual HIV transmission group, the prevalence of the HBV markers is the lowest when anti-HCV antibodies are detected. HBV and HCV infections are frequent among HIV-infected patients. The low prevalence of HCV antibody when HIV has been acquired though sexual contacts and the distribution of the HBV serologic markers by HIV transmission group and by HCV serologic status is in favour of the low sexual transmission of HCV.