Herpes and syphilis infections increase risk of Hepatitis B in women

A study which has published its results in the Clinical Infectious Diseases has found that herpes simplex virus and syphilis were associated with an increased risk of hepatitis B virus (HBV). Study results indicated that women with HIV-positive compared to HIV-negative women had a higher prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (43% of HIV+ women and 22% of HIV-), natural immunity to HBV, and isolated anti-HBc pattern but had a lower prevalence of vaccine immunity. Furthermore, 37% of the HIV-positive women with hepatitis B antibodies had an isolated anti-HBc pattern making them more at risk of cirrhosis and hence a shorter life span. Researchers expressed concern that more than half of the HIV-positive women who didn't have HBV weren't successfully vaccinated against it (vaccination may not have elicited an immune response). Prevalence of HBV infection appeared to be linked with number of sexual partners (48% of women with more than 10 partners and 28% of women with less than 10 partners). Older, black or uneducated women were more at risk of HBV infection. Hepatitis C, alcohol abuse and liver-toxic medications have all contributed to the liver diseases that causes illness or death in HIV patients.

Source: summary of medical news story as reported by Aids Map

Related Disease Topics:

• Herpes simplex virus
• Syphilis
• Hepatitis B virus
• Hepatitis C virus
• Infection
• Liver disease
• Cirrhosis
• HIV
• Alcoholism

Article Source Details

About: Herpes and syphilis infections increase risk of Hepatitis B in women

Date: 26 November 2004

Source: Aids Map

Author: Edwin J. Bernard

URL: http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/75BFFFCE-3A47-493F-92BA-AD7381C3079C.asp

Related Medical Topics

This summary article refers to the following medical categories:

• Sexually transmitted disease
• AIDS
• Research
• Research and herpes simplex virus
• Research and syphilis
• Research and hepatitis B virus
• Research and hepatitis C virus
• Research and infection
• Research and liver disease
• Research and cirrhosis
• Research and HIV
• Research and alcoholism
• Research and sexually transmitted disease
• Research and AIDS
• Death from HIV
• Death from sexually transmitted disease
• Death from hepatitis B virus
• Death from liver disease
• Dath from cirrhosis

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