Table 1. Comparison of characteristics for HIV-positive GBM with IDU versus sexually acquired acute HCV as determined by the clinician.
| n = 40 | IDU acquisition | Sexual acquisition | All |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total number of participants | 15 (37.5) | 25 (62.5) | 40 (100) |
| Median age, years | 37.6 (33.2–46.8) | 46.0 (37.6–46.8) | 45.3 (34.6–49.8) |
| Australian born | 13 (86.7) | 19 (76.0) | 32 (80.0) |
| City of recruitment | |||
| Sydney | 11 (73.3) | 15 (60.0) | 26 (65.0) |
| Estimated duration of HCV infection at screening, weeks | |||
| median | 12.9 (7.7–24.4) | 12.2 (7.1–22.4) | 12.7 (7.8–21.3) |
| <24 | 11 (73.3) | 20 (80.0) | 31 (77.5) |
| Any IDU, weeks | 15 (100.0) | 5 (20.0) | 20 (50.0) |
| >48 ago | 0 | 5 (20.0) | 5 (12.5) |
| >24 and ≤48 ago | 1 (6.7) | 0 | 1 (2.5) |
| > 4 and ≤24 ago | 8 (53.3) | 0 | 8 (20.0) |
| ≤ 4 ago | 6 (40.0) | 0 | 6 (15.0) |
| Injecting frequency1 | |||
| Less than weekly | 11 (78.6) | NA | x |
| Use of a sterile needle and syringe for each IDU episode2 | 5 (83.3) | NA | x |
| Most frequently injected drug1 | |||
| Methamphetamine | 13 (86.7) | NA | x |
| Permucosal drug use1,3 | 10 (66.7) | 14 (56.0) | 24 (60.0) |
| HCV seroconversion illness | |||
| Symptomatic | 9 (60.0) | 14 (56.0) | 23 (57.5) |
| Jaundice | 2 (13.3) | 7 (28.0) | 9 (22.5) |
| Participant reported route of HCV acquisition | |||
| IDU | 4 (26.7) | 0 | 4 (10.0) |
| Sexual | 11 (73.3) | 25 (100) | 36 (90.0) |
| HCV RNA level, log IU/mL | 5.8 (3.3–6.2) | 5.6 (4.7–6.2) | 5.7 (4.2–6.2) |
| Genotype 1a | 8 (53.3) | 17 (68.0) | 25 (62.5) |
| Genotype 3a | 5 (33.3) | 6 (24.0) | 11 (27.5) |
| Other or missing genotype4 | 2 (13.3) | 2 (8.0) | 4 (10.0) |
| Spontaneous clearance | 1 (6.7) | 2 (8.0) | 3 (7.5) |
| HIV parameters | |||
| CD4 cell count, cells/mm3 | 530.0 (319.0–768.0) | 527.0 (387.0–700.0) | 528.5 (351.8–701.0) |
| Number receiving cART | 9 (60.0) | 20 (80.0) | 29 (72.5) |
| No. on cART with HIV RNA <50 IU/mL | 7 (77.8) | 17 (85.0) | 24 (82.8) |
| HBsAg positivity | 1 (6.7) | 0 | 1 (2.5) |
| Median ALT, U/L | 81.0 (48.0–417.0) | 149.0 (78.5–466.5) | 134.5 (68.0–451.5) |
| STI screen performed at baseline | 8 (53.3) | 10 (40.0) | 18 (45.0) |
| STI identified | 4 (50.0) | 4 (40.0) | 8 (44.4) |
| Number providing a detailed sexual history1 | 12 (80.0) | 22 (88.0) | 34 (85.0) |
| Median number of sexual partners | 22 (9–33) | 9 (4–39) | 15 (4–38) |
| Number of participants reporting: | |||
| Sex exclusively with HIV+ partners | 4 (33.3) | 4 (18.2) | 8 (23.5) |
| Group sex | 10 (83.3) | 14 (63.6) | 24 (70.6) |
| Fisting | 7 (58.3) | 7 (31.8) | 14 (41.2) |
| CRAI | 10 (83.3) | 17 (77.3) | 27 (79.4) |
| CIAI | 9 (75.0) | 13 (59.1) | 22 (64.7) |
| Injecting drugs around the time of sex | 9 (75.0) | 0 | 9 (26.5) |
1, 2 With reference to the six months and one month preceding the study visit, respectively.
3 Drugs were ecstasy, MDMA, methamphetamine, GHB, cocaine, LSD, speed, magic mushrooms or marijuana either ingested, inhaled, or applied per rectum
4 One patient each of genotypes 1b, 2b and 4 (subtype not known); one patient not able to be genotyped due to low HCV RNA level
CRAI or CIAI denote condomless receptive or insertive anal intercourse, respectively
Brackets denote % or IQR.