Hepatitis C-seroconversion within three to six months after having contracted clinical syphilis and/or lymphogranuloma venereum rectitis in five homosexually active, HIV seropositive men

Lymphogranuloma venereum verläuft häufig asymptomatisch bei Männern, die Sex mit Männern haben, in Österreich

Hintergrund und Ziele

Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) ist eine sexuell übertragene Erkrankung verursacht durch Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Serovar L1–L3. Eine Zunahme von LGV ist vorwiegend bei Männern, die Sex mit Männern haben (MSM), beobachtet worden. Die Unterscheidung zwischen LGV und Nicht‐LGV‐Serovaren hat therapeutische Konsequenzen, daher wurden Prävalenz und Charakteristika von LGV innerhalb aller CT‐Infektionen untersucht.

Patienten und Methodik

Alle CT‐positiven Befunde, erhoben an den vier größten österreichischen HIV‐ und STI‐Kliniken von 04/2014–12/2021, wurden hinsichtlich Charakteristika der Erkrankung und Demographie der Patienten ausgewertet.

Ergebnisse

Insgesamt wurden n = 2083 CT‐Infektionen bei n = 1479 Personen dokumentiert. Das mediane Alter betrug 31,4 Jahre, 81% waren männlich, 59% MSM, 44% HIV‐positiv, 13% nutzten HIV‐Prä‐Expositionsprophylaxe. Serovaranalysen waren bei 61% (1258/2083) verfügbar, wobei L1–L3 in 15% (192/1258) aller Fälle nachgewiesen wurde. Bei MSM mit rektaler CT‐Infektion waren 23% (101/439) LGV. LGV‐Fälle verglichen mit CT‐Infektionen traten vermehrt bei MSM (92% [177/192] vs. 62% [1179/1891], p < 0,001), HIV‐Positivität (64% [116/180] vs. 46% [631/1376]; p < 0,001) und konkomitanter Syphilisinfektion (18% [32/180] vs. 7% [52/749]; p < 0,001) auf. LGV‐Infektionen verliefen zumeist asymptomatisch (45% [87/192]), gefolgt von Proktitis (38% [72/192]).

Schlussfolgerungen

Lymphogranuloma venereum machte 23% der rektalen CT‐Infektionen bei MSM aus und 45% aller LGV‐Fälle waren asymptomatisch. Bei fehlender CT‐Serovar‐Analyse sollte in Risikopopulationen eine erhöhte LGV‐Prävalenz in Betracht gezogen und bei der empirischen Therapiedauer berücksichtigt werden.

Asymptomatic lymphogranuloma venereum is commonly found among men who have sex with men in Austria

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Serovar L1-L3 of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) causes lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV). A surge in LGV-cases has been observed among HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM). Discrimination between LGV and non-LGV is pivotal since it has major treatment implications. Here, we aimed to determine the prevalence and characteristics of LGV among CT-infections.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

All CT-positive results from 04/2014-12/2021 at the four largest Austrian HIV and STI clinics were evaluated. Disease characteristics and patient demographics were analyzed.

RESULTS

Overall, n  =  2,083 infections of CT were documented in n  =  1,479 individual patients: median age was 31.4 years, 81% were male, 59% MSM, 44% HIV-positive, 13% on HIV pre-exposure-prophylaxis. Available serovar analyses (61% [1,258/2,083]) showed L1-L3 in 15% (192/1,258). Considering only MSM with rectal CT-infection, LGV accounted for 23% (101/439). Cases of LGV vs. other CT-infections were primarily MSM (92% [177/192] vs. 62% [1,179/1,891], p < 0.001), more often HIV-positive (64% [116/180] vs. 46% [631/1,376]; p < 0.001) and had frequently concomitant syphilis infection (18% [32/180] vs. 7% [52/749]; p < 0.001). LGV commonly manifested as proctitis (38% [72/192]) whereas 45% (87/192) were asymptomatic.

CONCLUSIONS

Lymphogranuloma venereum accounted for 23% of rectal CT-infections in MSM. Furthermore, 45% of all LGV-cases were asymptomatic. In the absence of CT-serovar analysis, a high LGV prevalence should be considered in risk-populations and guide empiric treatment selection.

Is sexual contact a major mode of hepatitis C virus transmission?

Medical opinion varies considerably regarding the transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) through sexual contact. Based on the study design, representativeness of the study population, and the methods used for case ascertainment, we analyzed 80 qualifying reports regarding the evidence for or against sexual transmission. Regarding heterosexual transmission, the weight of evidence is that there is no increased risk of sexual transmission of HCV among heterosexual couples in regular relationships. This risk increases among persons with multiple sexual partners (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.2-2.9), but this association may be confounded by increased likelihood of injection drug use with increased number of partners. There appears to be a real increased risk for women coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or other sexually transmitted infections (aOR 3.3-3.9) and especially for HIV-infected gay men who are having sex with one another compared with HIV-uninfected men (aOR 4.1-5.7). HIV-infected gay men increase their risk of such transmission in association with practices that lead to mucosal trauma (multiple sexual partners, fisting, use of sex toys) and the presence of genital ulcerative disease.

CONCLUSION

This review should inform, and not distract from, recommendations to reduce the risk of HCV transmission. Health care providers need to pay special attention to sexual transmission of HCV among HIV-infected individuals.

HCV co-infection in HIV positive population in British Columbia, Canada

Background

As HIV and hepatitis C (HCV) share some modes of transmission co-infection is not uncommon. This study used a population-based sample of HIV and HCV tested individuals to determine the prevalence of HIV/HCV co-infection, the sequence of virus diagnoses, and demographic and associated risk factors.

Methods

Positive cases of HIV were linked to the combined laboratory database (of negative and positive HCV antibody results) and HCV reported cases in British Columbia (BC).

Results

Of 4,598 HIV cases with personal identifiers, 3,219 (70%) were linked to the combined HCV database, 1,700 (53%) of these were anti-HCV positive. HCV was diagnosed first in 52% of co-infected cases (median time to HIV identification 3 1/2 years). HIV and HCV was diagnosed within a two week window in 26% of cases. Among individuals who were diagnosed with HIV infection at baseline, subsequent diagnoses of HCV infection was independently associated with: i) intravenous drug use (IDU) in males and females, Hazard Ratio (HR) = 6.64 (95% CI: 4.86-9.07) and 9.76 (95% CI: 5.76-16.54) respectively; ii) reported Aboriginal ethnicity in females HR = 2.09 (95% CI: 1.34-3.27) and iii) males not identified as men-who-have-sex-with-men (MSM), HR = 2.99 (95% CI: 2.09-4.27).

Identification of HCV first compared to HIV first was independently associated with IDU in males and females OR = 2.83 (95% CI: 1.84-4.37) and 2.25 (95% CI: 1.15-4.39) respectively, but not Aboriginal ethnicity or MSM. HIV was identified first in 22%, with median time to HCV identification of 15 months;

Conclusion

The ability to link BC public health and laboratory HIV and HCV information provided a unique opportunity to explore demographic and risk factors associated with HIV/HCV co-infection. Over half of persons with HIV infection who were tested for HCV were anti-HCV positive; half of these had HCV diagnosed first with HIV identification a median 3.5 years later. This highlights the importance of public health follow-up and harm reduction measures for people identified with HCV to prevent subsequent HIV infection.