Prevalence and impact of GBV-C, SEN-V and HBV occult infections in HIV–HCV co-infected patients on HCV therapy☆

Received 29 May 2008; received in revised form 10 June 2008; accepted 10 June 2008. published online 17 July 2008.

Background/Aims

It has been suggested that, in HIV–HCV co-infected patients, co-infections with other viruses may affect the response to HCV therapy.

We aimed to assess the prevalence of GBV-C, SEN-V and occult HBV infections, their impact on HCV and HIV infections and on the response to HCV therapy in HIV–HCV co-infected patients.

Methods

Three-hundred and sixty eight patients were tested before starting interferon–ribavirin for the presence of occult hepatitis B DNA, GBV-C RNA and SEN-V DNA by using real time PCR. Clinical, immunological, virological, histological characteristics and response to HCV therapy were compared according to the presence or not of each viral co-infection.

Results

HBV DNA, GBV-C RNA and SEN-V DNA were found in 5 (1.4%, CI95%: 0.2–2.4%), 104 (29.9%, CI95%: 25.1–34.7%) and 209 patients (57.9%, CI95%: 52.8–63.0%), respectively. GBV-C positive patients had significantly higher CD4 count at baseline, during and after HCV therapy, even after stratification on antiretroviral treatment. No other significant difference was observed according to the presence or not of GBV-C or SEN-V co-infection, in particular regarding virological responses to HCV combination therapy.

Conclusions

There is no reason to withhold HCV therapy in HIV infected patients who have access to HAART, because of occult HBV, GBV-C or SEN-V co-infections.

Associate Editor: M.U. Mondelli

Keywords: HIV, HCV, Occult hepatitis B, SEN-V, GBV-C

1 Service des Maladies Infectieuses, CHU Dijon, 10, Boulevard du Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny, 21079 DIJON Cedex, France

2 Inserm U707, Faculté de Médecine Saint Antoine, Paris, France

3 Laboratoire de Virologie, CHU Grenoble, France

4 Département de Microbiologie, CHU Brest, France

5 Laboratoire de Bactériologie-Virologie-Hygiène Hospitalière, CHU Angers, France

6 Service des Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, Hôpital Tenon, AP-HP, Paris, France

7 Service des Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, Hôpital Raymond Poincaré, AP-HP, Paris, France

8 Service de Médecine Interne, Hôpital Pitié-Salpétrière, Paris, AP-HP, France

9 Service d’Hépatologie, Hôpital Cochin, AP-HP, Paris, France

Corresponding author. Tel.: +33 3 80 29 33 05; fax: +33 3 80 29 36 38.

☆ The authors who have taken part in this study declared that they have no relationship with the manufacturers of the drugs involved and did not receive funding from industry to carry out this study.

PII: S0168-8278(08)00429-7

doi:10.1016/j.jhep.2008.06.024

8 of 38