Prevalence and risk factors of hepatitis A infection in an HIV-infected French population

Background - There are common risk factors between hepatitis A virus (HAV) and human immuno deficiency virus (HIV) infections. Then we tried to evaluate if HIV-infected patients could be at risk for HAV. More over, HAV could worsen prognosis of HIV infection and HAV vaccination was then to be considered. Objectives. - To assess the prevalence and risk factors of HAV infection in an HIV-infected population. Patients and methods. - 154 HIV-positive patients (mean age: 42 years, male patients: 70.8%, female patients: 29.2%) were screened for HAV antibodies and answered a questionnaire on risk factors for HAV and means of HIV contamination. Results. - The global prevalence was 72.7% [IC95%: 65.7-79.7]. When patients born in highly endemic areas were excluded seroprevalence reached 60% [IC95%: 51.2-70]. The HAV seroprevalence was almost 100% in migrants from highly endemic countries and for those born before 1946. The multivariate analysis showed that risk factors were the geographic origin [ORa = 20.88; IC95%: 2.40-18 1], age [ORa = 2.33; IC95%: 1.24-4.39], and hemophilia [ORa = 13.78; IC95%: 1.34-141]. Conclusion. - Our results suggest that a screening test for HAV antibodies should be performed before vaccination, especially in HIV-infected patients born after 1946 or in non-endemic countries. (c) 2005 Publie par Elsevier SAS.