The summaries are free for public
use. The Chronic Liver Disease
Foundation will continue to add and
archive summaries of articles deemed
relevant to CLDF by the Board of
Trustees and its Advisors.
Abstract Details
HPTN 078: High Prevalence of HCV Antibodies Among Urban U.S. Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM) Independent of HIV Status
Clin Infect Dis. 2020 Dec 21;ciaa1869.doi: 10.1093/cid/ciaa1869. Online ahead of print.
Risha Irvin1, Theresa Gamble2, Jowanna Malone1, Zhe Wang3, Ethan Wilson3, James P Hughes4, Jason Farley1, Kenneth H Mayer5, Carlos Del Rio6, D Scott Batey7, Vanessa Cummings1, Robert H Remien8, Chris Beyrer1, Chloe L Thio1
Author information
1Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
2HPTN Leadership and Operations Center, FHI 360, Durham, NC, USA.
3Statistical Center for HIV/AIDS Research and Prevention, Seattle, WA, USA.
4University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
5The Fenway Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
6Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
7The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
8HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, NY State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
Abstract
Background: Sexual transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) is uncommon, yet documented among men who have sex with men (MSM), primarily among those with HIV.
Methods: In HPTN 078, which assessed an integrated strategy to achieve HIV viral suppression, 1305 MSM were screened across four geographically diverse US cities. At screening, demographic/behavioral/psychosocial questionnaires were completed, along with HIV and HCV testing. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate associations with HCV antibody positivity.
Results: Of the 1287 (99%) MSM with HCV antibody results, median age was 41, 69% were Black, 85% had a high school diploma or more, 35% were employed, 70% had HIV, and 21% had undergone substance use counseling. The median lifetime number of male sexual partners was 17 (IQR: 6, 50) and 246 (19%) were HCV antibody positive. HCV antibody positivity was high in MSM with HIV (20%) and MSM without HIV (17%) (P=0.12) and was higher in those receiving substance use counseling (36%) than those that had not (15%)(P=<0.01). Substance use counseling [OR 2.51, 95% CI 1.80-3.51] and unstable housing [OR 2.16, 95% CI 1.40-3.33] were associated with HCV antibody positivity.
Conclusion: Nearly 1 in 5 MSM screened for HPTN 078 have been infected with HCV. The prevalence is high regardless of HIV status and is high even in those who did not undergo substance use counseling. In HIV burden networks, high HCV infection prevalence may occur in MSM without HIV. As PrEP implementation expands and condom use declines, routine HCV counseling and screening among MSM is important.