EPIDEMIOLOGY OF HEPATITIS C INFECTION IN PUERTO RICO: HIV COINFECTION

本子项目是利用由NIH/NCRR资助的中心赠款提供的资源的众多研究子项目之一。子项目和研究者（PI）可能已经从另一个NIH来源获得了主要资金，因此可以在其他CRISP条目中表示。列出的机构是中心的，不一定是研究者的机构。这项流行病学研究调查了丙型肝炎病毒感染的血清患病率，并评估了与性有关的做法、其他危险行为以及可能促进波多黎各21至64岁家庭人口传播的合并感染模式（甲型肝炎病毒、乙型肝炎病毒、艾滋病毒和2型单纯疱疹病毒）。据我们所知，这是第一个以人群为基础的研究，估计丙型肝炎病毒感染的患病率，并调查西班牙裔同质人群中感染的相关因素。这项研究的结果有助于了解西班牙裔人群的丙型肝炎感染负担，并为与其他大陆西班牙裔人群进行比较提供基线数据，最终导致可能降低丙型肝炎病毒传播风险的干预措施。作为这项正在进行的以人群为基础的研究的一部分，将储存大约2000份感染和未感染这些病毒病原体的参与者的血清样本。该资源库将使我们能够开展与生物标志物在病毒性肝炎、艾滋病毒和单纯疱疹发病机制中的作用相关的流行病学研究。此外，该细胞库可用于研究这些标志物在肝细胞癌和其他类型癌症的发生和进展中的作用。这些信息将有助于将研究结果转化为更好地理解肝细胞癌以及其他相关并发症的预防策略。共有390名参与者完成了所有的研究程序。正在处理所有研究测试的加勒比医学测试和参考实验室将把血清样本转移到CRC核心实验室储存和今后处理。

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. This epidemiologic study examines the seroprevalence of hepatitis C virus infection and assesses sex-related practices, other risk behaviors, and patterns of co-infections (hepatitis A virus, hepatitis B virus, HIV and herpes simplex type 2) that might promote transmission among the household population aged 21 to 64 years in Puerto Rico. To our knowledge, this is the first population-based study to estimate the prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection and investigate correlates of infection in a homogeneous population of Hispanic origin. Findings from this study can contribute to understand the burden of this infection in a Hispanic population and provide baseline data for comparison purposes with other mainland Hispanic groups that will ultimately lead to interventions that may reduce the risk of transmission of hepatitis C virus. As part of this ongoing population-based study, an estimated 2,000 serum samples of participants infected and non-infected with these viral pathogens will be stored. This repository would allow us to conduct epidemiologic studies related to the role of biological markers in the pathogenesis of viral hepatitis, HIV and herpes simplex. In addition, this bank might be used to investigate the role of these markers in the development and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma and other types of cancer. This information would facilitate translation of research findings to a better understanding of prevention strategies of hepatocellular carcinoma as well as other related complications. A total of 390 participants have completed all the study procedures. Caribbean Medical Testing and Reference Laboratory, who is processing all study tests, will be transferring the serum samples to the CRC Core Laboratory for storage and future processing.