title: Virological and clinical aspects of HBV-HCV coinfection in HIV positive patients.
abstract: In a long-term follow-up study the clinical and virological presentation of HBV/HCV coinfection in anti-HIV positive patients was evaluated. Plasma HBV-DNA, HCV-RNA, and HIV-RNA were determined by PCR in 5 HBsAg/anti-HCV/anti-HIV positive patients, in 4 HBsAg/anti-HIV positive patients and in 82 anti-HCV/anti-HIV positive patients first observed at a Unit of Infectious Diseases in Naples (Italy) from 1990 to 2000 (follow up 6-16 years). All five hepatitis B and C coinfected patients showed reciprocal inhibition of viral replication on admission and during the follow up. At the end of the follow up a clearance of HBsAg from serum was observed in four patients and a clearance of anti-HCV in one of them. In two patients after clearance of HBsAg, evidence of occult HBV infection was observed, at times associated with a hepatic flare. None of the four patients with HIV/HBV coinfection lost HBsAg and none of the 82 with HIV/HCV coinfection lost anti-HCV during the follow up. In anti-HIV positive patients HBV/HCV coinfection is characterized by reciprocal inhibition of viral replication, more evident in HBV expression in plasma and at times by progression to occult HBV infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Filippini
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Coppola
authors.forename: Raffaella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pisapia
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Martini
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marrocco
authors.forename: Filomena
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Di Martino
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sagnelli
authors.forename: Alberico
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Filippini
authors.forename: Evangelista
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sagnelli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D019562:Viral Load; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D012367:RNA, Viral