Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0019693 (HIV)
 170,526 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The prevalence, risk factors, and incidence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection were studied in a cohort of drug users in Amsterdam. In intravenous drug users, the seroprevalence was 74% (224/304) versus 10% (4/42) in nonintravenous drug users. Risk factors independently associated with HCV antibody seropositivity were history and duration of intravenous drug use and frequency of injections. Daily smoking of heroin in the previous 6 months was independently associated with the absence of HCV antibodies. Periods of fever, tiredness, and diarrhea in the preceding 6 months were associated with HCV antibodies even after correction for human immunodeficiency virus infection. The incidence rate of HCV infection appeared high and stable over the years 1986 to 1989. Thus, HCV infections are common among intravenous drug users and are mainly due to the intravenous use of drugs.
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PMID:Prevalence, incidence, and risk factors of hepatitis C virus infection among drug users in Amsterdam. 211

Serum specimens from 111 human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infected and 183 HIV-1 seronegative patients were analysed for antibodies to hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis A virus (HAV) by enzyme linked immunoassay (ELISA) and radioimmunoassay. Anti-HCV and anti-HBV antibodies were found in the vast majority (89 and 83%, respectively) of intravenous drug addicts (IVDA), independent of the type of drug abuse or whether the patients were HIV-1 infected or not. Anti-HAV antibodies were found in 60% of the IVDA. Anti-HCV antibodies were found in anti-HIV-1 positive homosexual men (14%) and anti-HIV-1 negative heterosexual persons (8%), but not in HIV-1 seronegative homosexual men. Also anti-HAV antibodies were found to a small extent in these groups. In contrast, anti-HBV antibodies were common in the homosexual men. The absorbance values of the positive reactions in the anti-HCV ELISA were lower for HIV-1 seropositive patients than those for HIV-1 seronegative subjects, particularly in the late stages of HIV-1 infection. These data suggest that HCV infection is transmitted as readily as HBV infection by intravenous drug abuse and that all three types of hepatitis virus infection are common in IVDA. Although transmission of HCV is primarily mediated by blood, sexual transmission may also occur. HIV-1 infection seems to be associated with unusually low levels of anti-HCV antibodies, especially in the late stages of HIV-1 infection.
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PMID:Hepatitis C virus infection in individuals with or without human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection. 212 86

The prevalence of antibodies against hepatitis C virus in 160 Swedish patients with haemophilia or related coagulation disorders and 13 heterosexual partners was assessed by means of an ELISA method. A high prevalence of HCV antibodies was found in haemophiliacs with chronic hepatitis (87%), with HIV-antibodies (87%), with severe form of the coagulopathy (81%), and among those who at any point had received factor concentrates without viral inactivation (79%) or of foreign origin (84%). On the other hand, none of the partners were seropositive, indicating a low risk of sexual transmission.
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PMID:Antibodies against hepatitis C in a population of Swedish haemophiliacs and heterosexual partners. 217 Nov 36

306 children who received polytransfusion or exchange transfusion between 1979 and 1983 and 104 age-matched controls were re-examined at a median age of 2.9 years for hepatitis A and B, CMV, EBV, and HIV infections. This retrospective study revealed no differences between transfused children and controls. HBsAg and anti-HIV were not detected. Two children were suspected of having hepatitis C. In both groups the incidence of positive CMV and EBV serologies was significantly increased in children from Mediterranean countries. Red cell concentrates were less frequently associated with CMV infection. These results confirm the exclusive recruitment of volunteer donors from a "healthy", mainly rural population and support the preferred use of red cell concentrates in paediatric patients.
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PMID:[Hepatitis A, B, CMV, EBV and HIV infections in premature and term newborn infants following polytransfusion]. 217 5

After 15 years of unsuccessful attempts, the most frequent of non-A non-B (NANB) hepatitis viruses has recently been identified and designated HCV. It is by an original and direct molecular biology approach, leading to the cloning of nucleic acids presumed to be present in an infectious plasma, that this virus could be partially characterized. The viral genome was sequenced before the agent could be detected by serology or electron microscopy. HCV is a small RNA virus with a lipid capsid, and it might be indirectly related to the flaviviruses. A non-structural, 363 aminoacid protein, corresponding to a virus replication enzyme, is the specific component originally used for the Elisa tests, now available for the serological diagnosis of HCV infection. Serological tests have shown that HCV is the most frequent of NANB viruses, being responsible for 60 to 80 percent of post-transfusion hepatitis. Anti-HCV antibodies develop slowly: in 40 percent of the cases they appear 2 to 12 months after the transaminase peak associated with primary infection, i.e. during convalescence. Among patients with chronic hepatitis, 60 to 80 percent of presumably NANB cases are positive for anti-HCV antibodies. The same applies to cirrhotic patients with or without cancer, 40 percent of whom are HCV positive. In France, the prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies among blood donors is 0.68 percent, and from March 1, 1990 testing for HCV has become compulsory. Among the groups at risk, prevalences are 70 percent in haemophiliacs, 50 to 75 percent in drug addicts and more than 30 percent in patients under haemodialysis. Sexual transmission seems to be rare but possible; 5 percent of homosexuals are HCV antibody carrier, and this proportion is higher in those who are HIV positive. We already know that some HCV positive subjects are not infectious and that some asymptomatic blood donors carry a serologically undetected HCV; the liver of at least 10 percent of patients with chronic NANB hepatitis without anti-HCV antibodies contains the RNA of HCV detectable by molecular amplification. All this leads to the concept of HCV negative viral hepatitis. The fact that the hepatitis C virus was discovered at about the same time than interferon clearance for marketing, is an exceptional public health opportunity which should generate specific programs. It may be hoped that a preventive vaccine will be developed in a not too distant future.
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PMID:[Discovery of the hepatitis C virus]. 217 57

Employment of allogenic blood products involves the risk of a series of complications in the recipient: transfusion-transmitted disease, immune suppression, immunological transfusion reactions and coagulopathy. Hepatitis C is the most common transfusion-transmitted infection with a post-transfusion incidence of 2-4%. Transfusion-transmitted AIDS plays a quantitatively lesser role but the course of the condition is frequently fatal. The duration of the period during which a HIV-sero-negative individual is potentially infectious is uncertain. After blood transfusion, the immune apparatus is suppressed, probably on account of the leukocyte content of the blood transfusion. These disturbances in immune function increase the risk of infection and possibly the frequency of recurrence of cancer after operative treatment of a series of neoplastic diseases. Coagulopathy after blood transfusion may be related primarily to the number of transfusions and can be counteracted by administration of the relevant coagulation factors. Rational hemotherapy aims at minimizing these transfusion-related complications by restricting the indications for blood transfusion, blood component therapy, peroperative normovolaemic haemodilution, preoperative deposition of autologous blood and/or peroperative collection of blood and re-infusion. Employing rational hemotherapy, it becomes possible to reduce the need for transfusion by 20-90% and hence the morbidity and the mortality connected with blood transfusion.
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PMID:[Rational hemotherapy. Indications, complications and practical performance]. 221 85

From December 1988 to April 1989, 154 female prostitutes in and around Ghent, Belgium, were interviewed about their knowledge, attitudes and practices in relation to the risks for sexually transmitted diseases (STD) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in their profession. Thirty four women worked as window prostitutes, 120 picked up their clients in bars, clubs, and saunas. Blood samples were taken from 123 women. One (0.8%) was seropositive for HIV1, 19 (15.4%) had Hepatitis B core antibodies (anti-HBc), eight (6.4%) showed markers of syphilis. None of them were Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriers. Hepatitis C antibodies (anti-HCV) were present in the serum of three women (2.4%). Overall STD seroprevalence was higher in the group of window prostitutes than in the group of club prostitutes. One woman admitted intravenous drug use. Former testing for anti-HIV antibodies had been performed in 102 (66.5%) respondents, of whom 84 (82.3%) were tested in the year preceding the interview. In 74.5% of the cases, these tests were requested by the women themselves. These results suggest that HIV infection is not yet prevalent in non-intravenous drug using prostitutes in Ghent, but that this situation may change considering their higher rates of past STD. Window prostitutes are at higher risk than club prostitutes. Testing for HIV seems to be common practice, mostly at the request of the women themselves. Health education should discourage the notion of testing as an alternative to using condoms.
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PMID:Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, sexually transmitted diseases and HIV-antibody testing practices in Belgian prostitutes. 224 81

In January 1990 a 32 year old nurse was admitted with fever, weight loss of 9 kilogramms and pain of her right flank. HIV infection due to intravenous drug abuse had been diagnosed in 1986. Ultrasonic imaging revealed a solid tumor of low echogenicity in the cranial part of the right kidney. This finding could be confirmed with computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Angiographic study showed a missing of blood vessels in the same area. A transcutaneous puncture with a thin needle resulted histologically in unspecific findings like detritus, lymphoid cells and neutrophils. Antibiotic treatment with amoxicilline and cefuroxim was without success. Symptoms as well as ultrasonic findings completely disappeared following oral administration of ofloxazine. The clinical course and the successful treatment support the diagnosis of an atypical renal abscess. As a second diagnosis a histologically proven cirrhosis of the liver could be established. Hepatitis C serology proved to be positive.
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PMID:[Reversible space-occupying lesions of the kidney in HIV infection]. 228 93

In my opinion, independent, carefully conducted scientific studies indicate that an accurate, rapid, relatively sensitive, and inexpensive laboratory test substantially reduces the major long-term risk of blood transfusion in the United States; donor ALT has emerged as one of the most effective laboratory determinants for reducing the incidence of NANB PTH. Despite its nonspecificity and limited predictive value, ALT screening may prevent up to 30 percent of cases, one-half of which would progress to chronic liver disease and then possibly to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Blood donors appear to understand and accept the testing rationale as a reasonable precaution. Admittedly, ALT screening is not a perfect solution. It has not been validated by prospective studies and probably never will be. Determination of the proper cutoff value remains controversial. However, the risk of PTH progresses with increasing ALT levels, so that the real issue is not whether to test, but how best to configure the test to exclude the fewest false-positive donors while detecting the most true-positive donors. It is undesirable and expensive to discard safe units of blood, but the primary responsibility of blood collectors is to ensure an adequate supply of safe components. Some still consider the ALT assay technically too demanding for routine use. However, technical concerns regarding performance and interpretation are not insurmountable, and both quality control and proficiency testing are being addressed at the national level. The assay is capable of great precision, and a system employing a national standard and single cutoff has already been described and tested with excellent results. Circumstances have changed since donor screening with ALT was widely implemented in 1986. More thorough screening and testing have eliminated many high-risk donors. Public expectations have changed as well. While it is neither reasonable nor responsible to promise the public blood transfusions without risk, neither is it prudent to propose any major change in management of the blood supply without compelling evidence that such a change will not impair transfusion safety. It is hard to defend discontinuing the ALT screen at this time, especially when the costs of retaining it are minimal and the benefits clearly greater than those of screening for HTLV-I and for Treponema pallidum (in the United States) or HIV-2 (in West Germany). A first-generation assay specific for antibody to hepatitis C will probably be available within a year.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
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PMID:Controversies in transfusion medicine. Alanine aminotransferase screening of blood donors: pro. 234 35

Many patients express concern about the risk of an infection from blood transfusion. Blood transfusion is one of the safest therapies available, but its risks should never be trivialized when talking with patients. The most common infectious complication is hepatitis C, which occurs in 2% to 4% of transfused patients. Hepatitis B occurs in fewer than 1% of such patients. The risk of HIV infection from a blood transfusion is less than 1 in 100,000 in the United States. Explanation of risks is most effective when comparisons are meaningful and phrased from the patient's point of view.
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PMID:Explaining the risks of blood transfusion to patients. 236 38


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