[Increased possibility for HIV-associated retinal microangiopathy syndrome in patients with concomitant hepatitis C infection].
BACKGROUND
The etiology of HIV-related retinal microangiopathy syndrome is yet unknown. Several authors postulate direct endothelial-cell infection, an immunocomplex vasculitis caused by HIV-related hypergammaglobulinemia or an increased serum concentration of endothelin as its origin.


METHODS
118 patients infected by HIV-1 have been examined (CDC I: 1; CDC II: 42; CDC III: 7; CDC IV: 68). 49 out of them were also infected by hepatitis-C-virus (CDC I: 0; CDC II: 16; CDC III: 4; CDC IV: 29).


RESULTS
26 out of 49 patients with hepatitis-C-co-infection showed HIV-related retinal microangiopathy syndrome (CDC I: 0/0; CDC II: 8/16; CDC III: 2/4; CDC IV: 16/29). In 69 patients without hepatitis-C-infection, HIV-related retinal microangiopathy syndrome was found five times (CDC I: 0/1; CDC II: 2/26; CDC III: 0/3; CDC IV: 3/39).


CONCLUSIONS
Co-infection with hepatitis-C-virus is supposed to enhance the development of retinal microangiopathy syndrome in patients infected by HIV-1.
Thierfelder
S
S
Universitäts-Augenklinik Würzburg.
Linnert
D
D
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000328:Adult; D001809:Blood Viscosity / Q000502:physiology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015497:HIV-1; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D006942:Hypergammaglobulinemia / Q000175:diagnosis; D007105:Immune Complex Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D009887:Ophthalmoscopy; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012166:Retinal Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000175:diagnosis
Höhere Wahrscheinlichkeit eines HIV-assoziierten retinalen Mikroangiopathie-Syndroms bei Patienten mit zugleich bestehender Hepatitis-C-Infektion.