The Detection Of HCV RNA, HCV Load And Genotypes In Anti-HCV-Negative Serum Of HIV-Infected Individuals In Guangxi

Objective To study the HCV RNA positive rate, HCV load and genotypes in anti-HCV-negative serum of HIV-infected individuals in GuangXi. It is our hope that the results can help doctors in the diagnosis and treatment of HCV infection.Methods1. Between August 2008 and January 2009,300 HIV-infected individuals were selected in some recruitment points from LIUZHOU and QINZHOU city. They were interviewed by questionnaire. The contents of questionnaire included demographic characteristic, drug use behavior, sexual behavior and so on, the serum specimens were collected at the same time. As control, the serum of 41 patients with single hepatitis C was collected from a hospital.2. HCV antibody were measured by ELISA for HIV Positive samples.3. HCV RNA were tested by RT-nPCR.HCV RNA levels were monitored by FQ-PCR and HCV genotypes were confirmed by RFLP method.4. The statistic alanalysis was Performed by SPSS 13.0. Differences were considered statistically significant at a P value of<0.05(twosides).Results 1. Among 300 HIV-infected persons,195 cases were males and 105 were females, the average age was 37.39±13.73 years.146 cases were found that HCV antibody was positive and 154 cases were negative. The rate of HIV/HCV co-infection was 48.67%. It was found that the youth, male, unemployment and unmarried status were the risk factor. The anti-HCV positive rate was associated with transmission routes:63.7% in drug abusers,34.96% in Sex-transmitted persons,1.37% in other individuals.2. In the anti-HCV-negative group, HCV RNA positive rate was 26.62%. In the anti-HCV-positive group, HCV RNA positive rate was 78.08%. The consistent rate of two measures was 75.67%.3. The logarithm of serum HCV RNA level was 6.15±1.33 in Anti-HCV-negative group,6.79±1.24 in anti-HCV-positive group, and 3.44±1.10 in the HCV-infected alone.there was a difference among three groups (P< 0.05), HCV RNA level of HIV/HCV co-infected patiens was more higher than those who infected with HCV alone. And there was no difference of anti-HCV positive rate among different levels of HCV RNA.4. The distribution of HCV genotypes were different between anti-HCV (-) group and anti-HCV (+) group. HCV genotypes of HIV/HCV co-infected persons showed diversity in GuangXi, and the major was lb and mixed subtypes.We found that lb was the main type in both LiuZHou and QinZHou. The distribution of HCV genotypes in drug abusers was different in the individuals infected from different transmission. Main HCV genotypes were 6a, mixed subtypes,3b in drug abusers. Other transmission contained 1b and la+lb.Conclusions:1. It is possiple that a relative large proportion of HIV-infected individuals coinfected HCV infection in GuangXi.The risk factors for coinfection were youth, unstable occupation and single in marriage. Drugs abusers and Sexual behavior is the main transmission of HIV/HCV co-infection in GuangXi.2. It was indicated that 26.62% HCV-infected persons will be omitted if single ELISA was used to diagnose HCV infection. There was a high HCV RNA level in the anti-HCV-negative patiens. The HIV positive persons who without HCV antibody should be advised to test HCV RNA in order to diagnose early, and HCV RNA should be detected by FQ-PCR in real time.3. HCV genotypes were Showed diversity in HIV/HCV co-infected persons in GuangXi.The main HCV genotypes were lb, mixed,6a,3b. Our findings should be a help for doctors who try to treat HCV infection of HIV positive patiens.