Human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C virus coinfection in Nepal.

OBJECTIVES

The study aimed at finding prevalence, mode of transmission, and pattern of CD4 cell count among hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfected human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive individuals in Nepal.

METHODS

This was a descriptive cross-sectional study carried out in three Volunteer Counseling and Testing clinics, one from Dharan and two from Kathmandu, Nepal. Three hundred and thirteen individuals were recruited.

RESULTS

Forty-two percent of HIV-infected persons had HCV coinfection. Significant associations with HIV and HCV coinfection were male gender (p <0.001) and injection drug use (IDU) (p <0.001). The mean CD4 cell count was significantly lower in HCV coinfected individuals, compared to those without coinfection, after 1.5 years (p =0.017), 2 years (p =0.0457), 3 years (p =0.011), and 3.5 years (p <0.001) of antiretroviral therapy.

CONCLUSION

HCV coinfection was common in HIV-infected individuals in Nepal and was associated with male gender, IDU, and lower CD4 counts.