Effect of hepatitis G virus infection on progression of HIV infection in patients with hemophilia

Yeo, AET Matsumoto, A Hisada, M Shih, JW Alter, HJ Goedert, JJ

Aet. Yeo et al., Effect of hepatitis G virus infection on progression of HIV infection in patients with hemophilia, ANN INT MED, 132(12), 2000, pp. 959-963

20

INGLESE

Article

General & Internal Medicine","Medical Research General Topics

ANNALS OF INTERNAL MEDICINE

0003-4819 → ACNP

132

12

2000

959 - 963

ISI

0003-4819(20000620)132:12<959:EOHGVI>2.0.ZU;2-A

Background: Infection with hepatitis G virus (HGV), also known as GB virus C, is prevalent but is not known to be associated with any chronic disease. Infection with HGV may affect the risk for AIDS in HIV-infected persons. Objective: To compare AIDS-free survival in patients with and those without HGV infection during 16 years of followup after HIV seroconversion. Design: Subanalysis of a prospective cohort study. Setting: Comprehensive hemophilia treatment centers in the United States an d Europe. Patients: 131 patients with hemophilia who became HIV-positive between 1978 and 1985. Measurements: Age, CCR5 genotype, HIV and HCV viral loads, CD4(+) and CD8() lymphocyte counts, and 12-year AIDS-free survival by HGV positivity (vire mia [RNA] or anti-E2 antibodies). Results: Compared with HGV-negative patients, the 60 HGV-positive patients (46%), including 22 who were positive for HGV RNA, had higher CD4(+) lympho cyte counts (difference, 211 cells/mm(3) [95% CI, 88 to 333 cells/mm(3)]) a nd 12-year AIDS-free survival rates (68% compared with 40%; rate difference , 1.9 per 100 person-years [Cl, -0.3 to 4.2 per 100 person-years]), despite similar ages and HIV viral loads. In multivariate proportional hazards mod els, risk for AIDS was 40% lower for HCV-positive patients independent of a ge, HIV and HCV viral loads, CD4(+) and CD8(+) lymphocyte counts, and CCR5 genotype. Conclusions: Patients with past or current HGV infection have higher CD4(+) lymphocyte counts and better AIDS-free survival rates. The mechanism of th is association is unknown.