title: Determinants of immunological and virological responses to antiretroviral therapy amongst HIV-infected adults in central Argentina: negative influence of hepatitis C infection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to update the epidemiological data on the prevalence of coinfection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HIV, and to identify whether specific clinical and epidemiological factors influenced the response of HIV-positive adults to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective observational cohort study of 238 HIV-infected patients evaluated the effect of different epidemiological and clinical parameters (including HCV coinfection) on therapy response among HIV-infected adults initiating HAART. Multiple logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with therapy response and estimated risk coefficients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seroprevalence of HCV infection in this population was 26% (62/238). We did not observe a significant association between immunological or virological response relating to patient gender or HAART regimen. However, this analysis showed that HCV serological status, age at HIV diagnosis, duration of treatment and WHO clinical stage of AIDS (<200 CD4 cells/ml independently of viral load either < or > to 100,000 copies/ml), were significantly associated with immunological and virological responses to HAART.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results show further evidence that hepatitis C serostatus is associated with a reduced response to HAART.
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Instituto de Virología Dr J M Vanella, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina. adrianalefarias@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Adrián Alejandro
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Farías
authors.forename: Luís Emilio
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Kremer
authors.forename: Luís
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Allende
authors.forename: María Del Pilar
authors.initials: Mdel P
authors.lastname: Díaz
authors.forename: María Belen
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Pisano
authors.forename: Marta Silvia
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Contigiani
authors.forename: Viviana Elizabeth
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Ré
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D060085:Coinfection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D019562:Viral Load; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: CD4 cell counts; HAART; HIV/HCV coinfection; response to therapy; viral load