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Gary P. Wormser, MD; Gilda Forseter, RN; Carol Joline, RN
New York Medical College Valhalla

Barbara Tupper, MS, MT, ASCP; Thomas A. O'Brien, PhD
Ortho Diagnostic Systems Inc Raritan, NJ

JAMA. 1991;265(22):2958.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

To the Editor.—

Abnormal liver function test results are common in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and, although they are likely to be multifactorial in origin, they are undoubtedly related to viral hepatitis in some of these patients. The recent discovery of a serological marker for the hepatitis C virus has greatly improved diagnostic accuracy for this form of hepatitis.¹ Hepatitis C virus infection may be an important cause of significant liver disease in certain HIV-infected patients and poses an additional concern for health care personnel with occupational exposure to blood. In European studies, hepatitis C coinfection rates in excess of 50% have been found for both HIV-infected hemophiliacs and intravenous drug users, with rates as high as 26% reported for HIV-infected homosexual men.^2,3

Few data are available, however, on hepatitis C coinfection rates for HIV-infected patients in the United States. The results of hepatitis . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

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