Hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfection in a cohort of HIV positive long-term non-progressors: possible protective effect of infecting HCV genotype on HIV disease progression.
OBJECTIVE
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is frequent in HIV-positive subjects. We evaluated the potential impact of HCV coinfection and other determinants on HIV disease progression in a cohort of long-term non-progressors (LTNPs).


METHODS
We studied immunological and virological factors in a cohort of 49 LTNPs, 23 of whom progressed during the follow-up (late progressors; LPs).


RESULTS
HCV coinfection was detected in 19/26 LTNPs and 15/23 LPs. Univariate analysis showed that HIV viral load was associated with disease progression (P=0.04), and time-to-event analysis indicated that HCV genotype 1 significantly correlated with LTNP status (P=0.031). At multivariate analysis, HIV viremia at study entry remained independently associated with LTNP status (P=0.049). When the most represented genotypes (1 and 3a) were considered in the model, genotype 3a infection (P=0.034) and gender (P=0.035) emerged as independent variables related to HIV disease progression, whereas HIV viral load disappeared.


CONCLUSIONS
In addition to HIV viremia, coinfection with different HCV genotypes and gender may affect LTNP status.
Morsica
Giulia
G
Division of Infectious Diseases, San Raffaele, Scientific Institute, via Stamira d'Ancona n 20, 20127 Milan, Italy. morsica.giulia@hsr.it
Bagaglio
Sabrina
S
Ghezzi
Silvia
S
Lodrini
Chiara
C
Vicenzi
Elisa
E
Santagostino
Elena
E
Gringeri
Alessandro
A
Cusini
Marco
M
Carminati
Guido
G
Bianchi
Giampaolo
G
Galli
Laura
L
Lazzarin
Adriano
A
Poli
Guido
G
D000328:Adult; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006678:HIV / Q000502:physiology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology; D020276:HIV Long-Term Survivors; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male