Hepatitis-C and Hepatitis-B Co-Infections in Patients with Human Immunodeficiency Virus in Tehran, Iran

We carried out a study to determine the seroprevalence of hbv and hcv infections in hiv positive patients at a main referral center for hiv/aids in iran. serum samples from 201 hiv positive patients referring to a referral center for hiv/aids were analyzed for the presence of some hepatitis b (hbsag, anti-hbc, anti-hbs) and hepatitis c (anti-hcv) markers, during 2004- 2005. hbsag was positive in 27 patients (13.4%), anti-hbc was positive in 60 patients (29.8%) and anti-hbs in 23 patients (11.4%). anti-hcv ab was positive in 135 of 201 (67.2%). hbv and hcv coinfection was observed in 73 of 201 (36.3%). the maximum prevalence of hbv-hiv and hcv-hiv coinfections were seen in intravenous drug users; 61.2% and 85.1%, respectively (p<0.0001). the minimum prevalence of hbv-hiv and hcv-hiv were seen in hiv patients´wife (hiv+ patients who were infected by monogamous sexual contact with their hiv positive husband) both of them were 8% (p<0.0001). this study showed that hbv-hiv and hcv-hiv coinfections are significant in patients with hiv/aids in iran. a greater relevance was observed in the association between hcv and hiv. this study suggests that it is necessary to investigate risk factors and risk groups for these infections in iran.