Epidemiology of Hepatitis C Virus and Human Immunodeficiency Virus Co-Infection and Challenges in Their Diagnosis

Year 2017, Volume: 07 Issue: 04, 167 - 172, 01.12.2017

Parul Punia Anita Chakravarti Anjar Ashraf

https://doi.org/10.5799/jmid.368504

Abstract

Objective:
To screen HCV infection in HIV infected individuals and to
compare the genotype and viral load of HCV in these co infected patients versus
HIV negative individuals.

Methods:
Serum samples from 70 HIV infected patients and 70 HIV
negative individuals who enrolled in the ART center were retrospectively
analyzed for the presence of anti HCV antibodies and for HCV RNA. Genotyping
and viral load were further determined in HCV RNA positive patients.

Results:
HCV infection (either positive for anti HCV Ab, or HCV
RNA or both) was found in 8.57% HIV infected cases as compared to 2.85%
individuals in the HIV uninfected control group. HCV RNA levels were higher in
HIV infected subjects versus HIV negative individuals. Among the HIV positive
cases, out of the three HCV RNA positive cases, two individuals had genotype 3
and one individual was found to have mixed genotype (1+3) as compared to
genotype 1 and genotype 3 in HIV negative healthy controls.

Conclusion: In our study, HCV
infection was found more frequently in HIV infected individuals as compared to
HIV non infected individuals. Therefore a routine screening test followed by a
confirmatory test should be made mandatory in co infected patients. 

Keywords

HIV, HCV, Genotype, Co-infection, Viral load

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