Prevalence of GBV-C RNA in HIV infected individuals in Tehran, Iran

• Main Authors: H Keyvani (Author), A Mohammadi (Author), M Haji-abdolbaghi (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Tehran University of Medical Sciences, 2010-03-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 2251-6085; 2251-6093
• Keywords: GBV-C RNA; HIV; Co-infection; Iran; Public aspects of medicine; RA1-1270
• Source: Iranian Journal of Public Health, Vol 39, Iss 1 (2010)

Background: GB virus C (GBV-C) is a flavivirus that was characterized in 1995. The prevalence of GBV-C RNA in HIV-in­fected subjects has not been previously studied in Iran and was therefore determined. Methods: We have investigated serum samples of 80 patients from Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran, Iran, whose HIV in­fection was confirmed in our laboratory by Western-blotting. We used nested-PCR to detect GBV-C/HGV RNA in their sera. Results: GBV-C/HGV RNA was detected in 15 (18.8%) of 80 patients. There was no significant difference in GBV-C/HGV RNA preva­lence between males and females, in different age groups and HIV viral loads groups. Conclusion: The prevalence of GBV-C RNA was high in HIV-infected patients. There was no association between GBV-C RNA prevalence and specific gender, age, and HIV viral loads groups.