Purpose. To determine the percentage of viral hepatitis (VH) B and C infection in patients with HIV/AIDS in Lviv Region, Ukraine.
Methods. We analyzed retrospectively patients’ medical cards with HIV/AIDS and VH, treated in Lviv Clinical Hospital of Infectious Diseases (LCHID) during the last four years.
Results. In the recent four years, 164 patients have been treated for HIV/AIDS in LCHID. The lethal outcome of the disease was observed in 19 patients (11.58%). Among all patients, VH was revealed in 43 patients (26.2%). Chronic HCV infection was reliably more common – 32 patients (74.4%) compared with co-infection HBV+HCV – 8 patients (18.7%) and chronic HBV infection – 3 patients (6.9%). VH at the stage of liver cirrhosis was observed in 15 patients (34.88%). Among them, the primary cause of cirrhosis was HCV infection in 8 (80%) individuals, co-infection HBV+HCV – in 2 (13.3%), HBV infection – in 1 (6.7%) person. The average age of patients with HIV/AIDS + VH constituted 37.4±0.9 years. Besides, men suffered more frequently – 32 (78.3%) compared with women – 11 (21.7%), p<0.001. The ratio of urban to rural residents was 3:2 – 29 (67.4%) versus 14 (32.6%), p<0.001, respectively. Mortality in patients with HIV/AIDS + VH constituted 20%, however, viral hepatitis or its complications were not the cause of death in any of the above-listed cases.
Conclusion. The obtained results prove that in the Lviv region, VH with parenteral route of transmission has been observed in every fourth patient with HIV/AIDS. Combination HIV/AIDS + VH was more common in men than in women. In ¾ of all cases, chronic HCV infection was reported. In 1/3 of patients, hepatitis was characterized by progression to liver cirrhosis. Thus, it is expedient to intensify the conduction of educational measures as to the likelihood of infecting with parenteral VH and HIV/AIDS in risk groups.