GB virus C (GBV-C) infection in hepatitis C virus (HCV)/HIV-coinfected patients receiving HCV treatment: importance of the GBV-C genotype.
BACKGROUND
Persistent GB virus C (GBV-C) coinfection leads to slower human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) progression. Despite the existence of multiple GBV-C genotypes, their relevance to the progression of HIV disease is unknown. We therefore investigated (1) the prevalence and genotype of GBV-C in hepatitis C virus (HCV)/HIV-coinfected patients and (2) the impact of HCV treatment on GBV-C RNA clearance.


METHODS
We retrospectively studied 130 HCV/HIV-coinfected patients initiating HCV therapy. Anti-E2 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and real-time PCR were used to detect and quantify GBV-C infection. GBV-C genotype was determined by sequencing the 5' untranslated region.


RESULTS
GBV-C infection (past or current) was identified in 111 (85%) of the patients. Ongoing GBV-C replication was detected in 40 patients. Coinfection with GBV-C genotype 2 was associated with significantly higher CD4(+) cell counts. After 24 weeks of HCV therapy, GBV-C RNA clearance was observed in 50% of patients, although this was not associated with changes in HIV load or with CD4(+) cell counts. Sustained GBV-C RNA clearance was observed in 31% of patients with GBV-C RNA detected at baseline.


CONCLUSIONS
GBV-C coinfection was extremely common. GBV-C RNA clearance with HCV therapy was associated with neither short-term loss of HIV control nor impaired immune status. The association of GBV-C genotype 2 with higher CD4(+) cell counts merits further study.
Schwarze-Zander
Carolynne
C
Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
Blackard
Jason T
JT
Zheng
Hui
H
Addo
Marylyn M
MM
Lin
Wenyu
W
Robbins
Gregory K
GK
Sherman
Kenneth E
KE
Zdunek
Dietmar
D
Hess
Georg
G
Chung
Raymond T
RT
D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D005260:Female; D029407:GB virus C / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005838:Genotype; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008404:Massachusetts / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D012367:RNA, Viral; D007372:Interferons