AEGiS-11IAC: Quantitative detection of hepatitis C virus and human immunodeficiency virus RNA in Brazilian coinfected patients.

11th International AIDS Conference

Vancouver, British Columbia — July 7-12, 1996

Quantitative detection of hepatitis C virus and human immunodeficiency virus RNA in Brazilian coinfected patients.

Int Conf AIDS 1996 Jul 7-12; 11:218 (abstract no. Tu.A.152)
Lewis-Ximenez LL, Schechter M, Schatzmayr H, Yoshida CT, Quinn TC; Departamento de Virologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, RJ, Brazil. Fax: 55 (21) 270-6397.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of HCV and HIV coinfection on viral load of each viral infection compared to individuals infected with only one infection, and to investigate their possible interactions. Materials and

METHODS: Sera from three groups of individuals were divided according to their HCV/HIV status: group 1: 71 HCV+/HIV- sera; group 2: 58 HCV+/HIV+ sera; group 3: 69 HCV-/HIV+ sera. Quantitative levels of HCV and HIV RNA were assessed by combined RT-PCR (Amplicor HCV & HIV Monitor, Roche, USA).

RESULTS: Group 1: HCV RNA was detectable in 52 (73%) of 71 with a median of 14,372 copies/ml (range less than 100 - 1,005,556). 48 patients (68%) had previous history of transfusion with a median of 13,323 copies/ml, while nontransfused group has 51,449 copies/ml. (p=0.7, NS). Group 2: HCV RNA was detected in 37 (64%) and HIV RNA in 57 (98%) of 58. Overall median viral levels for HCV and HIV RNA were 34,598 copies/ml (range less than 100-3,711,207 copies/ml) and 16,400 copies/ml (less than 100 - 891,000 copies/ml), respectively. Sexual transmission was observed in 38 (65%), parenteral transmission in 11 (19%), both sexual and parenteral in 6 (10%) and 4 (5%) with unknown modes of transmission. HCV RNA median levels were respectively: 12,114 copies/ml, 75,204 copies/ml, 146,653 copies/ml and 0 copies/ml. Both HCV and HIV RNA levels increased in patients with decreasing CD4 counts. Group 3: HIV RNA was detected in 65 (94%) of 69 patients with a median of 12,000 copies/ml (range less than 100-417,000 copies/ml).

DISCUSSION: Viral load of HCV does differ, although not significantly, according to different routes of transmission. The highest HCV levels were observed in the coinfected group who acquired their infection parenterally compared to the single infected group. Most of the single infected group had a previous history of one transfusion while coinfected patients included mostly IDUs. HCV replication was 2.4-fold higher in coinfected than in single infected patients, but there was no evidence that HIV replication was increased by the presence of HCV. The Amplicor HCV and HIV assays were able to detect very low titers of RNA (102-103 copies/ml) and will prove useful in determining virologic responses to specific treatment in larger studies of coinfected individuals.

Keywords: AEGIS, Hepacivirus, HIV, Viral Load, RNA, Viral, CD4 Lymphocyte Count, HIV Infections, RNA, HIV Antibodies, Anti-HIV Agents, Virus Replication, Brazil, Human, transmission, virology, ICA11

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TuA152