Relationship between antibodies to hepatitis C virus and human immunodeficiency virus among Thai selected groups

Abstract

Background and Aims: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections are major public health problems world-wide. This study attempted to analyze the relationship between positive antibodies to HCV (anti- HCV) and antibodies to HIV (anti-HIV) in Thai selected groups. Methods: A retrospective analysis of subject profiles including: demographic parameters, the main risk behavior and results of anti-HCV and anti-HIV tests perfomed on 165 injecting drug users (IDUs), 400 sexually transmitted disease (STD) patients, and 2,529 of the general population (2,167 blood donors and 362 premarital check-up individuals) was carried out. Results: History profile analysis showed high positive rate of anti-HCV in IDUs with and without anti-HIV (90.14% vs. 87.23%). In STD patients, the precentages were 13% and 5.67% respectively, and those in the general population were 22.22% and 2.55%, respectively. Results revealed significant relationships between positive anti-HCV and anti-HIV in STD patients (P=0.0283; relative risk=2.29) and the general population (P< 0.0001; relative risk=8.72), but no significance was observed in IDU patients (P=0.7392; relative risk=1.03). Conclusions: There were significant relationships between anti-HCV and anti-HIV among STD patients and the general population, however none was observed in the IDU group.