Impact of hepatitis C virus coinfection on HAART in HIV-infected individuals: multicentric observation cohort.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the influence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfection on clinical, immunological, and virological responses and on adverse reactions to nevirapine-containing highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in Chinese adult antiretroviral-naive HIV-positive patients.


METHODS
This prospective, multicentric study enrolled 175 HIV-1-positive subjects who initiated HAART and attended follow-up visits over 100 weeks from 2005 to 2007. They were grouped based on HCV antibody and HCV RNA test results. Virological and immunological responses and adverse events were monitored at baseline and at the end of weeks 4, 12, 24, 36, 52, 68, 84, and 100. For data analyses, we used repeated measures of variance.


RESULTS
There were 117 patients who were HCV antibody negative (anti-HCV-), 24 who were anti-HCV+ but HCV RNA-, and 34 who were anti-HCV+ and HCV RNA+. Compared with both anti-HCV- group and anti-HCV+ HCV RNA- group, the anti-HCV+ HCV RNA+ group had a higher incidence of rash (P = 0.044) and hepatotoxicity (P = 0.001) from adverse drug reactions. We observed no statistically significant differences in viral load responses among the 3 groups during follow-up. CD4 and CD8 T-cell responses were similar among the 3 groups.


CONCLUSIONS
HCV/HIV coinfection does not affect immunological and virological responses to HAART. However, the positive anti-HCV and HCV RNA in serum worsened adverse drug reactions to HAART such as rash and hepatoxicity in HIV patients.
Fuping
Guo
G
Department of Infectious Disease, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
Wei
Lv
L
Yang
Han
H
Zhifeng
Qiu
Q
Lingyan
Zuo
Z
Yanling
Li
L
Taisheng
Li
L
D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000009:adverse effects; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000276:immunology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies