418 INFLUENCE OF HEPATITIS C VIRUS (HCV) INFECTION ON ATHEROSCLEROSIS RISK IN HIV-INFECTED ADULTS

According to a new standard operating procedure, all 7683 patients who were seen in our emergency wards between May and November 2008 and in whom a blood sample was taken as part of the routine medical work-up were tested for the presence of anti-HCV antibodies. Anti-HCV positive patients were further analysed for the presence of viremia by real-time PCR. A total of 194 patients (2.5%) were found to be anti-HCV positive. 44% were female. The average age of these patients was 55 years. So far, 110 anti-HCV positive sera were further screened for HCV-RNA and 60% of them were HCV-RNA positive and 66% had elevated AST levels. Only 35% of HCV-RNA positive patients had a history of previous antiviral therapy. No difference in anti-HCV prevalence has been observed whether the patients from the traumatology or internal emergency ward were analysed. In conclusion, in patients of the Berlin Charite emergency wards the antiHCV prevalence was 5 times higher as expected form previous general population studies in Germany. In view of the progress made in recent years in the treatment of patients with HCV infection and the favourable outcome when treated at early stages, these data can be taken as a strong hint for a more general HCV screening at least in great urban areas.