Influence of Syphilis in Hepatitis B Transmission in a Cohort of Female Prostitutes

Background and Objectives. Prostitutes are at a greater risk for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection than the general population. We studied the influence of age and time as prostitute on HBV infection. We also examined the relationship between syphilis and infection in a cohort of female prostitutes....

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Sexually transmitted diseases 1993-09, Vol.20 (5), p.257-261
Main Authors: BRATOS, M. A., EIROS, J. M., ORDUÑA, A., CUERVO, M., DE LEJARAZU, R. ORTIZ, ALMARAZ, A., MARTÍN-RODRÍGUEZ, J. F., GUTIÉRREZ-RODRÍGUEZ, M. P., PRIETO, E. ORDUÑA, RODRÍGUEZ-TORRES, A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Age Factors
Antibodies, Bacterial - blood
Bacterial diseases
Biological and medical sciences
Cohort Studies
Confidence Intervals
Female
Hepatitis
Hepatitis Antibodies - blood
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B - complications
Hepatitis B - epidemiology
Hepatitis B - transmission
Hepatitis D - epidemiology
Hepatitis Delta Virus - immunology
Human bacterial diseases
Humans
Infectious diseases
Medical research
Medical sciences
Miscellaneous
Original Articles
Prevalence
Risk Factors
Sex Work
Sexually transmitted diseases
Spain - epidemiology
STD
Syphilis - complications
Time Factors
Treponema pallidum - immunology
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Summary:Background and Objectives. Prostitutes are at a greater risk for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection than the general population. We studied the influence of age and time as prostitute on HBV infection. We also examined the relationship between syphilis and infection in a cohort of female prostitutes. Study Design. The presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc), antibodies to hepatitis D virus (anti-HD) and treponemal antibodies (FTA-ABS) were determined in 368 prostitutes, of whom 147 were submitted to medical and serological follow-up every six months to evaluate the influence of syphilis in the transmission of hepatitis B. Results and Conclusion. The prevalence of HBsAg was 4.6%, of anti-HBc 31.2%, anti-HD 0.5% and FTA-ABS 35.0%. There was a statistical association between the presence of treponemal antibodies and anti-HBc (P = 0.022). The cohort study performed shows that the accumulated incidence of HBV infection in the FTA-ABS positive prostitutes (24.6%) was significantly higher than that of the FTA-ABS negative group (9.7%) (RR = 2.544; = 0.034). Our results indicate that syphilis could facilitate the heterosexual transmission of HBV infection.
ISSN:0148-5717
1537-4521
DOI:10.1097/00007435-199309000-00003