Response to anti-HCV therapy in HIV-HCV-coinfected patients: does the lipid profile really have an effect?
BACKGROUND
Because high serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and total cholesterol concentrations before treatment have been found to be significant positive prognostic factors for a sustained virological response to HCV therapy in monoinfected patients, the aim of this study was to assess this relationship in HIV-HCV-coinfected patients.


METHODS
Pretreatment fasting lipid parameters (in particular total cholesterol, LDL, high-density lipoprotein [HDL], apolipoprotein B [apoB] and triglycerides [TG]) were assessed in 315 patients from the French National Agency for Research on AIDS and Viral Hepatitis (ANRS) HC02-Ribavic therapeutic trial.


RESULTS
There was a significant correlation between pretreatment lipid parameters and steatosis (total cholesterol r=-0.23, P<0.0001; LDL r=-0.23, P<0.0001; HDL r=-0.28, P<0.0001; and TG r=0.18, P=0.002), but not with fibrosis. None of these lipid parameters were significant predictors of a sustained virological response to HCV therapy, even after adjustment for the type of interferon treatment and for the main known prognostic factors for a response to HCV therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
The possible effect of lipid metabolism on virological response is outweighed by other prognostic factors that affect response to HCV therapy in the ANRS HC02-Ribavic study.
Petit
Jean-Michel
JM
CHU Dijon, France.
Carrat
Fabrice
F
Duong
Michel
M
Halfon
Philippe
P
Duvillard
Laurence
L
Bani-Sadr
Firouzé
F
Chavanet
Pascal
P
Cacoub
Patrice
P
Piroth
Lionel
L
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D008055:Lipids; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b