Analysis of causes for liver function deterioration in patients with HIV/HCV co-infection.
BACKGROUND
Co-infection of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is common in hemophiliacs and drug abusers. To assess the interaction between HIV and HCV disease progression, we examined 82 HIV/HCV co-infection patients and 62 HCV infection patients.


METHODS
Liver function, pathological changes, infection duration, immune function and qualitative HCV-RNA and HCV antibody were compared retrospectively between the two groups of patients.


RESULTS
Fourty-eight patients (58.5%) in the HIV/HCV co-infection group and 53 patients (85.5%) in the HCV infection group showed abnormal liver function. No significant difference was observed in inflammation and fibrosis in the two groups (P=0.187, 0.954). However, liver abnormality in the patients with HIV/HCV co-infection appeared 8 years earlier than in those with HCV infection alone (P<0.001). As to immune function, the counts of CD+4 T and CD+8 T in the HIV/HCV group were (226.35+/-173.49)X10(6)/L and (914.40+/-448.28)X10(6)/L, whereas in the HCV group they were (752.31+/-251.69)X10(6)/L and (529.01+/-170.67)X10(6)/L respectively. The difference in the two groups was highly significant (P<0.001; P<0.001). The ratio of the number of people with both HCV-RNA and HCV antibody positive to the number of HCV-RNA positive and HCV antibody negative in the HIV/HCV group was 52:9, whereas in the HCV group it was 44:1 (P=0.043).


CONCLUSIONS
HIV/HCV co-infection can accelerate deterioration of hepatitis C, which may be due to the effect of HIV on cellular immunity and humoral immunity of the body.
Zhang
Yong-Hong
YH
Department of Infectious Diseases, You'an Hospital, Beijing 100054, China.
Chen
Xin-Yue
XY
Jiang
Yan
Y
Xiao
Yao
Y
Liu
Zhen
Z
Long
Xiao-Shan
XS
Wu
Hao
H
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000821:virology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000503:physiopathology; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000097:blood; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D013997:Time Factors
D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012367:RNA, Viral