title: Hepatitis C virus infection is associated with painful symptoms in HIV-infected adults.
abstract: The study aim was to assess whether hepatitis C virus (HCV) was associated with painful symptoms among patients with HIV. Using data from a prospective cohort of HIV-infected adults with alcohol problems, we assessed the effects of HCV on pain that interfered with daily living and painful symptoms (muscle/joint pain, headache and peripheral neuropathy). Exploratory analyses assessed whether depressive symptoms and inflammatory cytokines mediated the relationship between HCV and pain. HCV-infected participants (n = 200) had higher odds of pain that interfered with daily living over time (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.43; 95% CI: 1.02-2.01; p = 0.04) compared to those not infected with HCV. HIV/HCV co-infected participants had higher odds of muscle or joint pain (AOR 1.45; 95% CI: 1.06-1.97; p = 0.02) and headache (AOR 1.57; 95% CI: 1.18-2.07; p<0.01). The association between HCV and peripheral neuropathy did not reach statistical significance (AOR 1.33; 95% CI: 0.96-1.85; p = 0.09). Depressive symptoms and inflammatory cytokines did not appear to mediate the relationship between HCV and pain. Adults with HIV who are also co-infected with HCV are more likely to experience pain that interfered with daily living, muscle or joint pain, and headaches compared to those not co-infected. Research is needed to explore the association between HCV infection and pain, and to determine whether HCV treatment is an effective intervention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Boston Medical Center and Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA. judith.tsui@bmc.org
authors.forename: Judith I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Tsui
authors.forename: Debbie M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Howard
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Libman
authors.forename: Carly
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bridden
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Samet
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018771:Arthralgia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006261:Headache / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology