Hepatitis C virus infection is associated with endothelial dysfunction in HIV/hepatitis C virus coinfected patients.
OBJECTIVE
To quantify serum levels of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) in HIV/HCV coinfected patients to examine their association with several clinical and epidemiological characteristics and the therapeutic responsiveness to interferon (IFN)-alpha and ribavirin therapy (IFN-alpha + RBV).


METHODS
Retrospective study.


METHODS
We carried out a cross-sectional study with 183 IFN-alpha-naive patients on HAART, and 24 healthy controls. We also analyzed 30 out of 183 patients on IFN-alpha + RBV for the duration of 48 weeks.


RESULTS
HIV/HCV coinfected patients had higher levels of sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 than the healthy control group (P < 0.05). Patients with HCV-genotype 1, advanced fibrosis (F>or=3) or moderate to severe activity grade (A>or=2) had the highest values of sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1. When we carried out a multivariate analysis, we found a significant positive relationship between both HCV-genotype 1 and advanced fibrosis (F>or=3) with sICAM-1 (R = 0.549; P < 0.001); and a significant positive relationship between HCV-genotype 1 and advanced fibrosis (F>or=3) with sVCAM-1 (R = 0.624; P < 0.001). We also found a positive relationship of sICAM-1 or sVCAM-1 levels with transaminases and alkaline phosphatase circulation levels (P < 0.05). Nonresponder patients had higher sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 serum levels, and patients with sustained virologic response had significantly lower levels of sICAM-1 (P = 0.001) and sVCAM-1 (P = 0.019).


CONCLUSIONS
HIV and HCV coinfection induces alterations in sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 serum levels, which were higher in patients with HCV-genotype 1 and advanced stage of HCV infection. However, response to IFN-alpha + RBV may reduce these cardiovascular risk markers.
de Castro
Isabel Fernández
IF
Laboratory of Molecular Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases, National Centre of Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda,Madrid, Spain.
Micheloud
Dariela
D
Berenguer
Juan
J
Guzmán-Fulgencio
María
M
Catalán
Pilar
P
Miralles
Pilar
P
Alvarez
Emilio
E
López
Juan Carlos
JC
Cosín
Jaime
J
Lorente
Raquel
R
Muñoz-Fernández
Ma Angeles
MA
Resino
Salvador
S
D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000209:etiology / Q000821:virology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000502:physiology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood*; D019562:Viral Load
D015415:Biomarkers; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1