Herpes simplex virus-2 may increase susceptibility of
the sexual transmission of hepatitis C.
Shev S; Widell A; Bergstrom T; Hermodsson S; Lindholm A;
Norkrans G
Department of Infectious Diseases, Ostra University Hospital,
Goteborg, Sweden.
Sex Transm Dis 22: 210-6 (1995) Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Antibodies against herpes simplex viruses-1 and -2,
cytomegalovirus, and syphilis were determined in six heterosexual
couples with strong indications of having sexually transmitted
hepatitis C virus infection and in 17 other heterosexual couples in
which one partner was hepatitis C virus viremic (source partner),
but the other had remained hepatitis C virus uninfected (exposed
partner).
STUDY DESIGN. Antibody testing was done with an enzyme-linked
immunosorbent assay. Anti-herpes simplex virus 2 and anti-hepatitis
C virus findings were further confirmed by immunoblotting.
Hepatitis C virus RNA was determined by polymerase chain reaction
and genotyped with type-specific primers.
RESULTS. Five of six anti-hepatitis C virus-positive exposed
heterosexual partners without parenteral risk factors, compared
with three of 17 anti-hepatitis C virus-negative exposed partners,
had antibodies to herpes simplex virus-2. On the other hand, no
statistically significant difference was found regarding the
frequency of herpes simplex virus-2 seropositivity when source
partners in the anti-hepatitis C virus concordant and discordant
couples were compared. The presence of antibodies to herpes simplex
virus-1, cytomegalovirus, and syphilis did not significantly differ
between source or exposed partners in anti-hepatitis C virus
concordant and discordant couples, respectively. No predominance of
any one hepatitis C virus genotype or liver morphology in couples
concordant compared with discordant for anti-hepatitis C virus was
found.
CONCLUSIONS. The findings support the role of herpes simplex
virus-2 in the heterosexual transmission of hepatitis C virus
infections, and more specifically an increase in susceptibility to
hepatitis C virus infections in exposed heterosexual partners with
antibodies to herpes simplex virus-2.
Home | What is HCV | Transmission |
Future |
Complications |
Biopsy |
Treatment
| Lab |
Nutrition |
Patient |
Links | Transplant |
Webrings |
guestbookbook |
Awards |
FAQ
|