[Evaluation of the cellular immunity in patients coinfected by the hepatitis C virus and the human immunodeficiency virus].
BACKGROUND
The immune activation provoked by the hepatitis C virus can be deleterious in patients with human immunodeficiency virus, favouring the destruction of CD4 cells. By the other side, the immune restoration observed after the onset of antiretroviral therapy can be partially obscured in patients with the hepatitis C virus.


OBJECTIVE
The objective of the present study was to evaluate the impact of coinfection by hepatitis C virus and the human immunodeficiency virus in the cellular immunity.


METHODS
Two groups of patients were considered: coinfected patients were prospectively evaluated in the gastroenterology clinic at "Hospital Nossa Senhora da Conceição", Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil (group 1 - 385 patients), and monoinfected patients by human immunodeficiency virus based on the review of the charts from the infectious diseases clinic (group 2 - 198 patients). Demographic (gender, race, age) CD4 and CD8 cell count, CD4/CD8 index and human immunodeficiency virus viral load were evaluated. A 5% significance level was adopted.


RESULTS
There were no difference between the parameters evaluated: mean CD4 count (374,7 +/- 215,7 x 357,5 +/- 266,0), CD8 (1.512,4 +/- 7.274,6 x 986,7 +/- 436,4) and HIV viral load (83.744,2 +/- 190.292,0 x 104.464,0 +/- 486.880,5) respectively in both groups evaluated, as well as the proportion of patients with CD4/CD8 rate below 1.


CONCLUSIONS
Coinfection by both viruses did not have a negative impact in relation to monoinfection by human immunodeficiency virus, and the immune profile was similar in all groups.
Tovo
Cristiane Valle
CV
Hospital Nossa Senhora da Conceição, Porto Alegre, RS. cris.tovo@terra.com.br
Dos Santos
Diogo Edele
DE
Mattos
Angelo Zambam de
AZ
Mattos
Angelo Alves de
AA
Santos
Breno Riegel
BR
Galperim
Bruno
B
D000328:Adult; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019562:Viral Load