title: Hepatitis C virus coinfection does not affect CD4 restoration in HIV-infected patients after initiation of antiretroviral therapy.
abstract: There are conflicting data regarding the influence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection on the immune restoration experienced by HIV-infected patients who receive highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). In this multicenter, retrospective, longitudinal study, CD4 restoration was assessed according to HCV status in treatment-naive HIV-infected patients within 3 years of HAART. Only patients with persistent HIV suppression were included. Factors predicting CD4 gains were analyzed with multivariate linear regression. Out of 322 patients included 139 had positive HCV-RNA and 183 were only HIV infected. HCV-HIV-coinfected patients were older, more often ex-intravenous drug users (IVDU), and had less advanced HIV infection. Baseline CD4 count [OR -0.21 [95% CI (-0.34)-(-0.04)]; p = 0.01] and male sex [OR -0.19 [95% CI (-191.12)-(-10.87)]; p = 0.03] predicted smaller increments in absolute CD4 counts, and higher baseline CD4% [OR -0.38 [95% CI (-0.39)-(-0.21)]; p < 0.0001] and older age [OR -0.12 [95% CI (-0.23)-(-0.01)]; p = 0.03] predicted smaller gains in CD4% after 3 years of HAART. A history of IVDU was associated with smaller absolute CD4 count increases at 1 year of therapy [OR -0.20 [95% CI (-128.32)-(-16.24)]; p = 0.01]. Use of nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI)-only regimens and of zidovudine as part of the NRTI backbone was associated with smaller and greater gains in CD4%, respectively. HCV replication per se does not impair the CD4 restoration in HIV-infected patients successfully treated with antiretroviral therapy. Lower baseline CD4 counts are the strongest predictors of greater CD4 gains over a 3-year period, while a history of IVDU negatively affects CD4 restoration only early after the initiation of HAART.
authors.affiliation: Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Winston Salem, North Carolina 27157, USA.
authors.forename: Kari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yacisin
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Maida
authors.forename: María José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Ríos
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Soriano
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Núñez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D002455:Cell Division; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000502:physiology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013030:Spain; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents