The influence of HTLV-III infection on the natural history of hepatitis B virus infection in male homosexual HBsAg carriers
Corresponding Author
Kim Krogsgaard M.D.
Department of Medicine, Divisions of Hepatology, Rheumatology and Infectious Diseases, Hvidovre Hospital, University of Copenhagen; Laboratory of Tumour Virology, The Fibiger Institute; Gene Technology Group, Technical University of Denmark; and Rubella Department, State Serum Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark
Department of Medicine, 233, Hvidovre Hospital, University of Copenhagen, DK-2650 Hvidovre, Denmark===Search for more papers by this authorBjarne ÖRskov Lindhardt
Department of Medicine, Divisions of Hepatology, Rheumatology and Infectious Diseases, Hvidovre Hospital, University of Copenhagen; Laboratory of Tumour Virology, The Fibiger Institute; Gene Technology Group, Technical University of Denmark; and Rubella Department, State Serum Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark
Search for more papers by this authorJens Ole Nielsen
Department of Medicine, Divisions of Hepatology, Rheumatology and Infectious Diseases, Hvidovre Hospital, University of Copenhagen; Laboratory of Tumour Virology, The Fibiger Institute; Gene Technology Group, Technical University of Denmark; and Rubella Department, State Serum Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark
Search for more papers by this authorPoul Andersson
Department of Medicine, Divisions of Hepatology, Rheumatology and Infectious Diseases, Hvidovre Hospital, University of Copenhagen; Laboratory of Tumour Virology, The Fibiger Institute; Gene Technology Group, Technical University of Denmark; and Rubella Department, State Serum Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark
Search for more papers by this authorPeter Kryger
Department of Medicine, Divisions of Hepatology, Rheumatology and Infectious Diseases, Hvidovre Hospital, University of Copenhagen; Laboratory of Tumour Virology, The Fibiger Institute; Gene Technology Group, Technical University of Denmark; and Rubella Department, State Serum Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark
Search for more papers by this authorJan Aldershvile
Department of Medicine, Divisions of Hepatology, Rheumatology and Infectious Diseases, Hvidovre Hospital, University of Copenhagen; Laboratory of Tumour Virology, The Fibiger Institute; Gene Technology Group, Technical University of Denmark; and Rubella Department, State Serum Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark
Search for more papers by this authorJan Gerstoft
Department of Medicine, Divisions of Hepatology, Rheumatology and Infectious Diseases, Hvidovre Hospital, University of Copenhagen; Laboratory of Tumour Virology, The Fibiger Institute; Gene Technology Group, Technical University of Denmark; and Rubella Department, State Serum Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark
Search for more papers by this authorCourt Pedersen
Department of Medicine, Divisions of Hepatology, Rheumatology and Infectious Diseases, Hvidovre Hospital, University of Copenhagen; Laboratory of Tumour Virology, The Fibiger Institute; Gene Technology Group, Technical University of Denmark; and Rubella Department, State Serum Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Kim Krogsgaard M.D.
Department of Medicine, Divisions of Hepatology, Rheumatology and Infectious Diseases, Hvidovre Hospital, University of Copenhagen; Laboratory of Tumour Virology, The Fibiger Institute; Gene Technology Group, Technical University of Denmark; and Rubella Department, State Serum Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark
Department of Medicine, 233, Hvidovre Hospital, University of Copenhagen, DK-2650 Hvidovre, Denmark===Search for more papers by this authorBjarne ÖRskov Lindhardt
Department of Medicine, Divisions of Hepatology, Rheumatology and Infectious Diseases, Hvidovre Hospital, University of Copenhagen; Laboratory of Tumour Virology, The Fibiger Institute; Gene Technology Group, Technical University of Denmark; and Rubella Department, State Serum Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark
Search for more papers by this authorJens Ole Nielsen
Department of Medicine, Divisions of Hepatology, Rheumatology and Infectious Diseases, Hvidovre Hospital, University of Copenhagen; Laboratory of Tumour Virology, The Fibiger Institute; Gene Technology Group, Technical University of Denmark; and Rubella Department, State Serum Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark
Search for more papers by this authorPoul Andersson
Department of Medicine, Divisions of Hepatology, Rheumatology and Infectious Diseases, Hvidovre Hospital, University of Copenhagen; Laboratory of Tumour Virology, The Fibiger Institute; Gene Technology Group, Technical University of Denmark; and Rubella Department, State Serum Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark
Search for more papers by this authorPeter Kryger
Department of Medicine, Divisions of Hepatology, Rheumatology and Infectious Diseases, Hvidovre Hospital, University of Copenhagen; Laboratory of Tumour Virology, The Fibiger Institute; Gene Technology Group, Technical University of Denmark; and Rubella Department, State Serum Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark
Search for more papers by this authorJan Aldershvile
Department of Medicine, Divisions of Hepatology, Rheumatology and Infectious Diseases, Hvidovre Hospital, University of Copenhagen; Laboratory of Tumour Virology, The Fibiger Institute; Gene Technology Group, Technical University of Denmark; and Rubella Department, State Serum Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark
Search for more papers by this authorJan Gerstoft
Department of Medicine, Divisions of Hepatology, Rheumatology and Infectious Diseases, Hvidovre Hospital, University of Copenhagen; Laboratory of Tumour Virology, The Fibiger Institute; Gene Technology Group, Technical University of Denmark; and Rubella Department, State Serum Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark
Search for more papers by this authorCourt Pedersen
Department of Medicine, Divisions of Hepatology, Rheumatology and Infectious Diseases, Hvidovre Hospital, University of Copenhagen; Laboratory of Tumour Virology, The Fibiger Institute; Gene Technology Group, Technical University of Denmark; and Rubella Department, State Serum Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
The presence of antibodies to HTLV-III and markers of active hepatitis B virus replication was examined in a longitudinal study of 33 consecutive male homosexual HBsAg carriers. The mean follow-up time was 37 months (range = 4 to 109 months). All patients were initially hepatitis B virus DNA-positive and HBeAg positive. Antibodies to HTLV-III were detectable in eight patients while they were positive for both of these markers. One of them cleared hepatitis B virus DNA and seroconverted from HBeAg to anti-HBe. This corresponds to an annual clearance/seroconversion rate of 4% (95% confidence limits = 0 to 15%). In two patients, antibodies to HTLV-III appeared after clearance of hepatitis B virus DNA and HBeAg, and in one of them, hepatitis B virus DNA reappeared. Among the 25 patients negative for HTLV-III antibodies, the annual hepatitis B virus DNA clearance rate was 20% and HBeAg to anti-HBe seroconversion rate was 11% (95% confidence limits = 11 to 31% and 4 to 20 % respectively). The observed hepatitis B virus DNA clearance rates in the two groups were significantly different (p < 0.05). Disease activity, as determined by transaminase levels, was significantly lower in HTLV-III infected individuals as compared to individuals without HTLV-III infection (p < 0.05). Infection with HTLV-III may extend the period of active viral replication or even reactivate hepatitis B virus replication and seems to diminish inflammatory disease activity in chronic HBsAg carriers.
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