[The prevalence of hepatitis C and B viral markers in patients with sexually transmitted diseases in Cluj].

BACKGROUND

Recently, hepatitis C virus (HCV) have been recognised as being one of the most important cause of non-A, non-B hepatitis. Although parenteral transmission of HCV is wellknown, the risk of sexual transmission is still under debate.

OBJECTIVE

This study was conducted to assess the HCV infection markers in sexually transmitted disease (STD) patients from an endemic area for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Additionally, we studied the prevalence of HBV infection markers in these patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The sera of 121 patients with STD from Cluj-Napoca have been tested for antibodies to HCV (anti-HCV), Hbs antigen (Hbs Ag), antibodies to Hbc antigen (anti-HBc), by automated ELISA.

RESULTS

Anti-HCV were detected in 26/121 (21.5%) patients: 73/121 (60.3%) patients presented HBV infection markers HBV infection markers (HbsAg and or anti-HBc) have been observed in 22/26 (84.6%) HCV infected patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Prevalence of HCV infection markers in STD patients from Cluj is high (21.5%). HBV infection markers have been detected in 60.3% of patients. In STD patients form Cluj HCV infection markers have been correlated to HBV infection markers.