Hepatitis B, C, Treponema pallidurn and Toxoplasma gondii co-infections in HIV infected patients

Background: Some infections share common modes of transmission with HIV and have the potential to change the course of the latter. Aim To assess the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) hepatitis C virus (HCV), Treponema pallidum and Toxoplasma gondii co-infections in HIV-1 infected patients followed at a university hospital. Material and methods: Clinical records of HIV-positive individuals were reviewed. The analysis included: demographical data, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), IgM and IgG anti-HBc, antibodies, anti-HCV antibodies, RPR or VDRL test and IgG anti T gondii antibodies. Results: Three hundred ninety fwe patients (aged 16 to 89 years, 359 males) were included in the review. Seventy nine percent had been tested for HBV status with HBsAg, and the global HTV-HBV co-infection prevalence was 6.1%. A subgroup of 190 individuals were tested for HBV infection with HBsAg and IgM/IgG anti-HBc markers. Of these, 46% fulfilled co-infection criteria: eight with acute hepatitis B, 11 with chronic hepatitis B and 69 with inactive HBV infection. The frequency of HIV-HBV co-infection was 48% and 22% among men and women respectively (NS). HCV-HTV co-infection was detected in 3%, syphilis-HIV co-infection in 21% and T gondii-HTV co-infection in 26%. Conclusions: In this cohort, HIV infection is accompanied by a high prevalence of other co-infections, particularly HBV among men (Rev Med Chile 2009; 137: 641-8).