[Morphological liver changes of chronic hepatitis C in antiretroviral-naive HIV-infected patients].
The aim of the study was evaluation of morphological exponents of chronic hepatitis C in naive HIV/HCV co-infected patients.


METHODS
Investigation were performed in 61 patients with chronic hepatitis C, 21 HIV co-infected. HIV-HCV co-infected patients were included to group I. There were 7 females and 14 males (mean age 31.5 years). In group II there were 40 patients with chronic hepatitis C HIV-seronegatives. There were 22 females and 18 males (mean age 40.1 years). In all patients medical history, physical examination, some laboratory tests (ALT activity, HCV viral load) and histological examination of liver biopsy specimens were performed. In patients from group I HIV viral load and CD4 count were assessed.


RESULTS
Among HCV infected (group II) higher biochemical activity of the disease and more intense inflammatory changes and fibrosis in the liver were detected. In group HIV/HCV co-infected 2-times higher values of HCV viral load were detected. There were no connections with morphological liver picture and HCV viral load in these patients. There were no connections between the grade of immunodeficiency and advancing of morphological changes in the liver. So grading as staging were similar, independent on lymphocyte CD4 count.


CONCLUSIONS
In the light of performed investigations it was revealed that HIV not accelerate the natural history of chronic hepatitis C. The grade of immunodeficiency measured by CD4 count seems to no influence on advancing of morphological changes in the liver in naive patients.
Grabczewska
Edyta
E
Katedra i Klinika Chorób Zakaźnych i Hepatologii, Collegium Medicum im. L. Rydygiera w Bydgoszczy, Uniwersytetu Mikołaja Kopernika w Toruniu. kikchzak@cm.umk.pl
Pawłowska
Małgorzata
M
D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D018450:Disease Progression; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011044:Poland; D019562:Viral Load
D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase