[Effect of HAART on HCV viral load in the first three years of follow-up].
OBJECTIVE
Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has been considered to be ineffective in controlling hepatitis C viremia in the first year of treatment. The present study evaluates the effect of prolonged HAART upon HCV-VL.


METHODS
We selected those cases with positive serology for HCV, never been treated with protease inhibitors (PIs) at baseline, which after the introduction of HAART maintained undetectable HIV viral loads (HIV-VL) uninterruptedly for at least three years. Determinations were made of HCV-VL at baseline and after two and three years of HIV-VL suppression. Spearman coefficient and Friedman test were used.


RESULTS
Of these patients, 21 satisfied the inclusion criteria. HCV-VL remained without significant changes and with relatively stable levels throughout the three-year follow-up period. However, two patients showed HCV-VL negative conversion after two years, that persisted after three years.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients who respond to HAART maintain stable HCV-VL. Some subjects may exhibit HCV RNA clearance in the first two years of treatment, maintaining this situation after three years.
Tornero
Carlos
C
Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital Francesc de Borja, Gandía, Valencia, España. tornero_car@gva.es
Gimeno
Concepción
C
Igual
Rafael
R
Santamaría
Alicia
A
Gil
Eva
E
Rull
Santos
S
D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D013997:Time Factors; D019562:Viral Load / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*