Study on co-infection of HIV and HBV/HCV in intravenous drug users

  Objective   To understand T lymphocyte subsets and HBV-DNA/HCV-RNA load with co-infection of HIV and HBV/HCV.

  Methods   A total of 410 Intravenous Drug Users(IVDUs)were recruited with informed consent.Peripheral blood mononuclear cells and sera were separated routinely.Viral markers were detected by ELISA and immunochro-matographic tests.The load of HBV-DNA/HCV-RNA was identified by fluor escence quantitative PCR.The level of PHA-induced IFN-γ/IL-4 was determined by EL ISA.T lymphocyte subset was deter mined by fluorescence immunoassay.

  Results   The level of IFN-γ/IL-4 and the percent of CD3/CD4 cells in IVDUs were lower than that in the healthy controls(P < 0.01).The level of IFN-γ and the percent of CD4 cells were continuously decreased, when the IVDUs was infected with HIV.HBeAg and the load of HBV-DNA were related to HIV-infected.

  Conclusion   Impaired TH response in IVDUs.Virus-infection continuously altered the T_H1/T_H2 balance.HIV-infection promotes HBV replication.