Hepatitis C virus infection in sexually active homosexual men

• Published in: The Journal of infection Vol. 29; no. 3; pp. 263 - 269
• Main Authors: Buchbinder, Susan P., Katz, Mitchell H., Hessol, Nancy A., Liu, Jennifer, O'Malley, Paul M., Alter, Miriam J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.11.1994; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Cohort Studies; Hepacivirus - immunology; Hepatitis Antibodies - analysis; Hepatitis C - transmission; Homosexuality, Male; Human viral diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Male; Medical sciences; Risk Factors; Substance Abuse, Intravenous - complications; Viral diseases; Viral hepatitis; Human; Homosexuality; Hepatic disease; Male; Epidemiology; Infection; Virus; Sexually transmitted disease; Viral disease; Risk factor; Digestive diseases; Flaviviridae; Hepatitis C virus; Viral hepatitis C
• ISSN: 0163-4453; 1532-2742
• DOI: 10.1016/S0163-4453(94)91128-2

While hepatitis C virus (HCV) is known to be transmitted parenterally, the role of sexual transmission remains unclear. In order to examine the association of sexual risk factors with HCV seroprevalence at a time when unprotected sexual practices were still quite common, 435 homosexual men recruited from a municipal sexually transmitted disease clinic with behavioural data and serologic specimens from 1983–1984 were evaluated. Overall, 25% of men reporting injecting drug use (IDU) and 5% of men with no IDU were anti-HCV positive; the rate in the non-IDU was significantly higher than age-matched rates in blood donors (summary odds ratio 3·5, 95% confidence interval 2·8–4·2). In addition to IDU, amphetamine and phencyclidine use were also associated with anti-HCV positivity on univariate analysis. Sexual risk factors for anti-HCV positivity included anal receptive intercourse, ‘fisting’, having an IDU sexual partner, a self-reported history of genital herpes and HIV seropositivity. On multivariate analysis, only IDU was significantly associated with anti-HCV positivity. Thus, sexual practices appear to play a minor role in transmission of HCV.