AEGiS-15IAC: Hepatitis C and progression of HIV disease in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in Brazil.

15th International AIDS Conference


Bangkok, Thailand - July 11-16, 2004

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Hepatitis C and progression of HIV disease in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in Brazil.

Int Conf AIDS 2004 Jul 11-16; 15:(abstract no. A10080)

Carmo RA, Rocha MO, Guimaraes MD, Moura AS, Neiva AM, Versiani JB, Lima LV, Freitas LP, Fonseca MM, Silva AM, Ribeiro CV, Soares VS, Oliveira JG
CTR Orestes Diniz-UFMG, Belo Horizonte, MG., Brazil

BACKGROUND: HCV has emerged as a major pathogen among patients with HIV.

METHODS: To analyse the relationship between HCV infection and HIV disease progression, death caused by AIDS, and the response to HAART, a historical cohort study was carried out in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Eight hundred twenty four HIV-infected persons, with or without HCV coinfection, were enrolled and followed up from January 1996 through December 2002, in two AIDS-reference public health care services. Analyses were used to compare patient characteristics, comorbid conditions, survival probabilities, and immunological and virological responses to HAART in HIV-infected and HIV-HCV-infected patients.

RESULTS: The seroprevalence of anti-HCV (EIA-3.0) among HIV-infected receiving HAART was 9.2% (76/824). In univariate analysis and median follow-up of 776 days, the probability of progression to a new AIDS-defining clinical event or to death caused by AIDS was associated with HCV seropositivity (hazard ratio 1.71 [95%CI 1.12-2.60]). HCV seropositivity was associated with smaller CD4 cell recovery (hazard ratio for a CD4-cell count increase of at least 50 cells/mm3= 0.57 [0.42-0.78]) and smaller virological response to HAART (hazard ratio for a suppression of viral load below 400 HIV-1 RNA copies/ml= 0.62 [0.44-0.88]).

CONCLUSION: These results suggest that HCV coinfection may be a negative prognostic factor for clinical evolution among Brazilian HIV patients, specially in the HAART era.

Keywords: AEGIS, Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active, HIV Infections, Hepatitis C, CD4 Lymphocyte Count, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Viral Load, HIV, Hepacivirus, Anti-HIV Agents, Hepatitis C Antibodies, HIV Seropositivity, Cohort Studies, Seroepidemiologic Studies, Brazil, Humans, immunology

040711
A10080

Copyright © 2004 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.