The efficacy of the ImmuKnow assay for evaluating the immune status in human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C virus-coinfected patients.
BACKGROUND
The survival of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients has significantly improved since the introduction of antiretroviral therapy (ART). However, the mortality due to hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related liver disease has not been reduced in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients, and HCV has recently become the most significant cause of death in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients. Liver transplantation might be one of the treatments of choice in such cases, but it is very difficult to evaluate the immune status of these patients due to ART, anti-HCV treatment, and HIV-related immunocompromised state.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the immune status in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients using the Cylex ImmuKnow assay, which was designed to monitor the global immune status by measuring the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels produced by activated CD4+ T cells.


METHODS
Twenty-eight HIV/HCV-coinfected patients were included in this study. We evaluated their immune activity using the ImmuKnow assay, and compared the data with those of HCV mono-infected patients indicated for liver transplantation as well as healthy controls.


RESULTS
The ATP levels of HIV/HCV-coinfected patients were significantly higher than those of HCV mono-infected liver transplant recipients (P < .001), and were significantly lower than those of healthy controls (P = .001).


CONCLUSIONS
The ImmuKnow assay was considered to be a useful tool to evaluate the immune status of HIV/HCV-coinfected patients.
Department of Surgery, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan. Electronic address: no_rain_no_rainbow1018@yahoo.co.jp.
K
K
Natsuda
Department of Surgery, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan.
A
A
Soyama
Department of Surgery, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan.
M
M
Takatsuki
Department of Surgery, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan.
M
M
Hidaka
Department of Surgery, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan.
A
A
Kitasato
Department of Surgery, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan.
T
T
Adachi
Department of Surgery, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan.
T
T
Kuroki
Department of Surgery, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan.
S
S
Eguchi
D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans
D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate