Clinical impact of GB virus C viremia on patients with HIV type 1 infection in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy.
BACKGROUND
The influence of GB virus C (GBV-C) viremia on clinical outcomes of patients with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection remains controversial in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).


METHODS
A prospective observational study was conducted to describe the epidemiology of GBV-C viremia and assess its clinical impact on treatment responses to HAART in 385 HIV-1-infected patients during the period from January 1999 through June 2004.


RESULTS
A total of 59 patients (15.3%) had detectable GBV-C RNA viremia during a median observation of 3.6 years (range, 1.0-7.0 years); 47 patients (12.2%) had GBV-C viremia at enrollment, and 12 (3.1%) acquired GBV-C infection during follow-up. Thirty-two (68.1%) of the 47 patients with baseline GBV-C viremia had persistent GBV-C viremia. Compared with patients with clearance of GBV-C viremia (n=15) and patients without detectable GBV-C viremia (n=326), patients with persistent GBV-C viremia were more likely to be men who have sex with men (81.3% vs. 60.4%; P=.02), tended to have lower baseline plasma HIV RNA load (HIV RNA load > or =5 log(10) copies/mL, 31.3% vs. 49.4%; P=.05), and had a higher proportion of isolated anti-hepatitis B core antibody (37.5% vs. 17.2%; P=.005). There was no statistically significant difference in terms of virologic, immunologic, and clinical responses to HAART; occurrence of hepatic events; and mortality among the 3 groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Persistent GBV-C viremia is significantly associated with male-male sex in HIV-infected patients with advanced immunodeficiency, and persistent GBV-C viremia does not confer short-term benefit in patients receiving HAART.
Sheng
Wang-Huei
WH
Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
Hung
Chien-Ching
CC
Wu
Ruei-Jiuan
RJ
Wang
Jann-Tay
JT
Chen
Pei-Jer
PJ
Chang
Shan-Chwen
SC
Kao
Jia-Horng
JH
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000379:methods*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D018178:Flaviviridae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D029407:GB virus C / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015995:Prevalence; D011336:Probability; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014766:Viremia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology