[Serological markers of hepatitis b and hepatitis d among individuals with symptomatic and asymptomatic HIV infection].

Serological markers of present or past HBV infection were looked for in 69 persons infected with HIV. 40 out of them were clinically asymptomatic, while 29 showed evidence of clinically overt disease related to HIV infection. Most of them were homo- or bisexual men, prostitutes or intravenous drug abusers. Control group consisted of 247 anti-HIV negative persons with the same behavioural patterns. Serological markers compatible with present or past HBV infection were found in 18 out of 40 (45%) asymptomatic HIV carriers, in 23 out of 29 (79.3%) patients with clinically overt HIV infection, and in 82 out of 247 (33.2%) anti-HIV negative persons from the control group. Presented data show that HIV-infected clinically overt individuals have a higher prevalence of HBV markers than asymptomatic carriers of HIV or persons without anti-HIV belonging to risk groups. Therefore, HBV could be a factor influencing outcome of HIV infection.