[Soroepidemiological survey of hepatitis B virus among HIV/AIDS patients in Belém, Pará--Brasil]. / Estudo soroepidemiológico da infecção pelo vírus da hepatite B entre portadores do vírus da imunodeficiência humana/SIDA na Cidade de Belém, Pará--Brasil.

The objective of this investigation was to study the prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection in a sample of 406 adult patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection who attended at the public health care in the city of Belém, Pará, Brazil, as well as analyzing possible risk factors for hepatitis B virus infection. The overall prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection was 51% (CI: 46.1 - 55.8), with 7.9% (CI: 5.3 - 10.5) for HBsAg, 45.1% (CI: 40.3 - 49.9) for anti-HBc and 32.3% (CI: 27.5 - 36.8) for anti-HBs. After adjustment using logistic regression, hepatitis B serological markers were associated with the following variables: age, marital status and sexual preference. The frequency of hepatitis B markers was 28.7% in heterosexuals and 68.8% in homo/bisexuals (CI: 3.50 - 9.08; OR: 5.63; p=0.000). In married people the frequency was 31% and 58.7% in single people (CI: 1.29 - 3.63); OR: 2.16; p=0.003). Multivariate analysis showed no association between hepatitis B virus infection and illicit injectable drug use.

[Hepatitis C: prevalence and risk factors among patients with HIV/AIDS in Belém Pará, in Brazilian Amazon]. / Hepatite C: prevalência e fatores de risco entre portadores do VIH/SIDA em Belém, Pará, na Amazônia brasileira.

The objective of this investigation was to study the prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection and to identify possible risk factors for its transmission, in 406 adult patients with HIV/AIDS who attended at public health services, in Belém city, Pará, Brazil. The anti-HCV was performed by third generation immunoenzymatic technique, and the HCV RNA by polymerase chain reaction. The overall prevalence of hepatitis C virus was 16% (CI: 12.4 - 19.6). Multivariate analysis showed association between virus C infection and age, with significant risk in the group about fifty years old or more (OR=9.75), blood transfusion (OR=4.74) and use of injecting drugs (OR=149.28). The hepatitis C virus infection was detected in 83.7% of intravenous drug users and 22.1% of transfused patients. These data indicate the efficient transmission of the virus through the percutaneous exposition and reaffirm the high risk to hepatitis C among injectable illicit drug user.