Sexual transmission of hepatitis C virus and HIV-1 infection in female intravenous drug users

✍ Scribed by A. Salvaggio; M. Conti; A. Albano; A. Pianetti; M. L. Muggiasca; M. Re; L. Salvaggio

• Publisher: Springer
• Year: 1993
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 506 KB
• Volume: 9
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0393-2990
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00146264

✦ Synopsis

We examined the relationship between the presence of antibody to HCV and sexually transmitted diseases in 151 female, intravenous drug users aged 17-43 years. Anti-HCV was present in 49 of 66 HIV-l-negative women (74.2%), and 63 of 85 HIV-l-positive women (74.1%). Anti-HCV seropositivity was significantly related to sexually transmitted infections (Ureaplasma urealyticum infections excluded) in HIV-l-seronegative women, but not in HIV-l-positive women. Also, in HIV-l-negative subjects, Trichomonas vaginalis infections (and infections with M. hominis) were significantly related to anti-HCV seropositivity, and a positive relation between the number of sexual partners and the presence of anti-HCV was demonstrated. In HIV-l-positive subjects a shared use of needles and syringes was more likely, and an increased parenteral exposure to HCV may decrease the relative contribution by sexual transmission. However, in HIV-l-negative subjects, sexual transmission of HCV appears to be both a possible and important means of transmission.