Document 0124
 DOCN  M9480124
 TI    High rate of nonspecific anti-hepatitis C reactivity amongst homosexual
       men in comparison with that found in other sexually active groups and
       blood donors. Viral Hepatitis and AIDS Study Group.
 DT    9410
 AU    Andreu J; Abad MA; Sanchez-Quijano A; Torronteras R; Luque F; Garcia de
       las Heras J; Soto B; Pineda JA; Leal M; Lissen E; Department of Internal
       Medicine, Virgen del Rocio University; Hospital, Seville, Spain.
 SO    J Intern Med. 1994 Jul;236(1):73-7. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/94292895
 AB    OBJECTIVES. To investigate the concordance of anti-hepatitis C virus
       (anti-HCV) reactivity by a second-generation enzyme immunoassay (EIA-2)
       and by a four-antigen recombinant immunoblot assay (4-RIBA) in
       homosexual men, in comparison with that found in other sexually active
       groups and blood donors. DESIGN. Prospective study. SETTING. Tertiary
       referral centre, Seville, Spain. SUBJECTS. A total of 1203 subjects were
       studied. Eight hundred and three were sexually active individuals: 547
       female prostitutes, 88 heterosexual men who had frequent sexual
       intercourse with prostitutes, and 168 homosexual men. All of them denied
       blood transfusion and parenteral drug use. In addition, 400 voluntary
       blood donors were selected at random. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES. All serum
       samples were screened for anti-HCV by EIA-2 and repeatedly reactive sera
       were tested by 4-RIBA. Homosexual men were also screened for anti-human
       immunodeficiency virus (anti-HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers and
       gammaglobulin concentration. Finally, serum samples from homosexual men
       reactive for anti-HCV by EIA-2 were analyzed for HCV-RNA by polymerase
       chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS. Concordance between EIA-2 and 4-RIBA in
       female prostitutes (71.4%), clients of prostitutes (75.0%), and blood
       donors (83.3%) was significantly higher than in homosexual men (38.8%)
       (P < 0.04). In this collective the concordance between 4-RIBA and PCR
       was 85.7% for positive cases and 88.8% for negative ones, and EIA-2
       ratios in reactive sera were significantly higher in 4-RIBA confirmed
       cases (P < 0.0001). No correlation between false positive EIA-2 results
       and presence of HIV infection, HBV markers or hypergammaglobulinaemia
       was found in homosexual men by univariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS. There
       is a high level of non-specific anti-HCV reactivity by EIA-2 amongst
       homosexual men in comparison with that found in other sexually active
       groups and blood donors. The true prevalence of HCV infection amongst
       homosexual men could be even lower than previously described.
 DE    Adult  Analysis of Variance  Antigens, Viral/*BLOOD  *Blood Donors
       Comparative Study  Female  Gamma Globulins/ANALYSIS  Hepatitis B
       Antigens/BLOOD  Hepatitis C/EPIDEMIOLOGY  Hepatitis C
       Viruses/*IMMUNOLOGY  *Homosexuality  Human  HIV Antigens/BLOOD
       Immunoenzyme Techniques  Male  Middle Age  Prevalence  *Prostitution
       JOURNAL ARTICLE

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