title: Liver Fibrosis Regression Measured by Transient Elastography in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-Hepatitis B Virus (HBV)-Coinfected Individuals on Long-Term HBV-Active Combination Antiretroviral Therapy.
abstract: Background.  Advanced fibrosis occurs more commonly in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-hepatitis B virus (HBV) coinfected individuals; therefore, fibrosis monitoring is important in this population. However, transient elastography (TE) data in HIV-HBV coinfection are lacking. We aimed to assess liver fibrosis using TE in a cross-sectional study of HIV-HBV coinfected individuals receiving combination HBV-active (lamivudine and/or tenofovir/tenofovir-emtricitabine) antiretroviral therapy, identify factors associated with advanced fibrosis, and examine change in fibrosis in those with >1 TE assessment. Methods.  We assessed liver fibrosis in 70 HIV-HBV coinfected individuals on HBV-active combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). Change in fibrosis over time was examined in a subset with more than 1 TE result (n = 49). Clinical and laboratory variables at the time of the first TE were collected, and associations with advanced fibrosis (≥F3, Metavir scoring system) and fibrosis regression (of least 1 stage) were examined. Results.  The majority of the cohort (64%) had mild to moderate fibrosis at the time of the first TE, and we identified alanine transaminase, platelets, and detectable HIV ribonucleic acid as associated with advanced liver fibrosis. Alanine transaminase and platelets remained independently advanced in multivariate modeling. More than 28% of those with >1 TE subsequently showed liver fibrosis regression, and higher baseline HBV deoxyribonucleic acid was associated with regression. Prevalence of advanced fibrosis (≥F3) decreased 12.3% (32.7%-20.4%) over a median of 31 months. Conclusions.  The observed fibrosis regression in this group supports the beneficial effects of cART on liver stiffness. It would be important to study a larger group of individuals with more advanced fibrosis to more definitively assess factors associated with liver fibrosis regression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Monash University; Department of Infectious Diseases, The Alfred Hospital; The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Audsley
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases , Monash University.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Robson
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases , The Alfred Hospital.
authors.forename: Stacey
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aitchison
authors.affiliation: The Kirby Institute.
authors.forename: Gail V
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Matthews
authors.affiliation: St Vincent's Hospital , Melbourne , Australia.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Iser
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases , The Alfred Hospital.
authors.forename: Joe
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sasadeusz
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Monash University; Department of Infectious Diseases, The Alfred Hospital; The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne.
authors.forename: Sharon R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Lewin
keywords: HIV-HBV coinfection; antiretroviral therapy; fibrosis; transient elastography