title: Anti-hepatitis C virus treatment may prevent the progression of liver fibrosis in non-responder human immunodeficiency virus/hepatitis C virus coinfected patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate changes in liver histology in patients with human immunodeficiency virus/hepatitis C virus coinfection non-responders to a suboptimal Interferon+Ribavirine regimen.
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated 49 patients with two sequential liver biopsies: 18 were non-responders to Interferon+Ribavirine treatment (Group hepatitis C virus Rx) administered after the 1st liver biopsy who underwent a 2nd liver biopsy after a median period of 3.92 year and 31 were patients who remained untreated for hepatitis C virus disease (Group hepatitis C virus untreated) after the 1st liver biopsy because of refusal and underwent a 2nd liver biopsy after a median period of 5.05-years. Most patients in both groups were under highly active antiretroviral therapy. At the time of 1st liver biopsy similar degrees of necro-inflammation, fibrosis and steatosis were observed in both groups. Changes in liver lesions between 1st and 2nd liver biopsys were adjusted for different intervals between liver biopsys by a mathematic formula.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Liver fibrosis did not change in 88.9% of patients in Group hepatitis C virus Rx and in 77.4% in Group hepatitis C virus untreated. A marked deterioration in liver fibrosis was observed in 5 (16%) patients in Group hepatitis C virus untreated and in none in Group hepatitis C virus treated. Necro-inflammation and steatosis remained substantially unchanged in both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Liver histology remained substantially unchanged in human immunodeficiency virus/hepatitis C virus patients non-responder to anti-hepatitis C virus therapy over 4 years observation, suggesting an effective anti-hepatitis C virus early treatment for all hepatitis C virus/human immunodeficiency virus coinfected patients who can reasonably tolerate therapy.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Vita-Salute University, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy; Experimental Medicine and Surgery "F. Magrassi e A. Lanzara", Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sagnelli
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Vita-Salute University, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Uberti-Foppa
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Vita-Salute University, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Galli
authors.affiliation: Department of Mental Health and Public Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pasquale
authors.affiliation: Department of Mental Health and Public Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Coppola
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Albarello
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Doglioni
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Vita-Salute University, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Adriano
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lazzarin
authors.affiliation: Department of Mental Health and Public Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy. Electronic address: evangelista.sagnelli@unina2.it.
authors.forename: Evangelista
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sagnelli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001706:Biopsy; D060085:Coinfection / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012254:Ribavirin
keywords: HIV infection; HIV/HCV coinfection; HIV/HCV coinfection liver histology; Liver fibrosis