AEGiS-13IAC: Effect of HIV-infection on hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infection in hemophiliacs and i.v drug users.

13th International AIDS Conference

Durban, South Africa - July 9-July 14, 2000

Effect of HIV-infection on hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infection in hemophiliacs and i.v drug users.

Int Conf AIDS 2000 Jul 9-14; 13:(abstract no. ThOrB654)

Rockstroh JK, Loch O, Helm B, Degen O, Brockmeyer H, Kaiser R
J.K. Rockstroh, Univ. of Bonn, Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik I, Sigmund-Freud-Str. 25, D-53105 Bonn, Germany, Tel.: +49-228-287 6558, Fax: +49-228-287-5034, E-mail: rockstroh@uni-bonn.de

OBJECTIVE: To clarify the interactions between HCV- and HIV-infection in 63 HIV/HCV double-infected hemophiliacs and 342 double-infected i.v. drug users.

METHODS: At baseline and after 6 months, HCV-RNA-levels were determined quantitatively by the Roche Monitor PCR Assay. HIV-RNA, CD4+/CD8+ counts, ALT, AST, cholinesterase, alcaline phosphatase and bilirubin were determined by routine procedures. All patients were characterized with respect to possible HGV-coinfection.

RESULTS: Both, mean HCV-RNA- and HIV-RNA-levels were not different between our two patient groups (HIV-RNA i.v. drug users/hemophiliacs: 3.93 ± 1.1 vs 3.68 ± 0.97 log 10 copies/ml; HCV-RNA: 5.83 ± 0.89 vs 5.72 ± 0.9 log 10 copies/ml). HIV/HCV-coinfected i.v. drug users had significantly higher mean CD4-counts compared to HIV/HCV-coinfected hemophiliacs (CD4+: 332 ± 246 vs 230 ± 219/microliter; p > 0.001), but no correlation was found between CD4-counts and HCV-RNA. A weak correlation between HIV-RNA and HCV-RNA was only detected in the hemophiliac subgroup (r = 0.347; p > 0.05). No difference between both study groups was seen with regard to gamma-GT, AST, and alcaline phosphatase. However, AST was significantly higher in hemophiliacs versus i.v. drug users (51 ± 37 vs 39 ± 40; p > 0.001) as well as bilirubin (1.08 ± 0.9 vs 0.85 ± 1.4; p > 0.001). HIV/HCV-coinfected drug abusers had significantly more often HGV-coinfections than hemophiliacs (odds ratio 0.243; 95% CI: 0.092; 0.640). No significant change in HC-viremia occurred over 6 months of antiretroviral therapy in both patient groups.

CONCLUSION: Declining CD4-counts as surrogate marker of comprised immune infection were not associated with higher HCV-RNA-levels. IV drug users showed more frequently concomitant HGV-infection. Patients receiving antiretroviral therapy showed no change in HCV-viremia over 6 months treatment period.

Keywords: AEGIS, Hepacivirus, HIV Infections, Hemophilia A, CD4 Lymphocyte Count, HIV, Substance Abuse, Intravenous, HIV-1, GB virus C, Anti-HIV Agents, HIV Seropositivity, HIV Protease Inhibitors, HIV Antibodies, Antigens, CD4, Human, immunology
000709
ThOrB654