title: The association of human immunodeficiency virus infection with spontaneously resolved hepatitis C virus infection and level of viremia among injection drug users.
abstract: This study aimed to investigate whether HIV and HIV-related factors are associated with spontaneously resolved hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and levels of hepatitis C viremia. Among 351 anti-HCV(+) injection drug users, with and without HIV infection, multivariate methods were used to evaluate whether HIV status and HIV viral load, CD4 T-cell count, and concurrent HIV antiretroviral therapy were associated with (1) spontaneously resolved HCV infection and (2) HCV RNA levels. In 186 HIV patients, decreased HCV resolution was independently associated with Black race and modestly associated with CD4 T-cell count <200 cells/ml. Among 310 patients with persistent HCV infection, higher HCV RNA levels were independently associated with HIV status but not with other HIV-related factors. HIV may be associated with persistent HCV infection in patients with low CD4 T-cell counts. Moreover, HIV is associated with increased HCV viral load, which may attenuate response to HCV antiviral treatment in coinfected patients.
authors: San Francisco Veteran's Administration Medical Center, San Francisco, California 94121, USA. karen.seal@ucsf.edu
authors: Karen H
authors: KH
authors: Seal
authors: Alex
authors: A
authors: Monto
authors: Lorna
authors: L
authors: Dove
authors: Hui
authors: H
authors: Shen
authors: Eric
authors: E
authors: Vittinghoff
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Tracy
authors: Erica
authors: E
authors: Miller
authors: Eva
authors: E
authors: Lau
authors: Teresa L
authors: TL
authors: Wright
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006678:HIV / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011379:Prognosis; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000821:virology*; D019562:Viral Load; D014766:Viremia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D012367:RNA, Viral