Sustained long-term antiviral maintenance therapy in HCV/HIV-coinfected patients (SLAM-C)

[Diagnostic possibilities of methods for the evaluation of liver fibrosis in chronic viral hepatitis]

The paper reviews the diagnostic possibilities of different methods for the evaluation of liver fibrosis in chronic viral hepatitis from the point of view of their clinical application. Histological examination retains its value as the gold standard method in evaluating the liver. Transient elastography is a rather effective tool for identifying severe liver fibrosis.

Ultra-Deep Genomic Sequencing of HCV NS5A Resistance-Associated Substitutions in HCV/HIV Coinfected Patients

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The prevalence of naturally occurring HCV-NS5A resistance-associated substitutions (RAS) to DAA drugs might affect the response to treatment in HCV/HIV coinfected subjects. There are limited data on the frequency of HCV-NS5A naturally occurring drug-RAS at baseline in HCV/HIV coinfected patients when ultra-deep sequencing methodologies are applied.

METHODS

HCV-NS5A-RAS were evaluated among 25 subjects in each group. Patients were matched by age, gender, and hepatic fibrosis stage category to control for selection bias.

RESULTS

Within subtype 1a, RAS were observed in 28% of HCV monoinfected and 48% of HCV/HIV coinfected subjects. More patients in the HCV/HIV coinfected group had clinically relevant mutations to DAA directed at NS5A.

CONCLUSION

While the clinical significance of this observation may be limited in highly drug adherent populations, some HCV/HIV coinfected persons may be at greater risk of viral resistance if suboptimal dosing occurs.

Characterization of HCV NS3 Protease Variants in HCV/HIV-Coinfected Patients by Ultra-Deep Sequence Analysis: Relationship with Hepatic Fibrosis

BACKGROUND

Treatment of HCV/HIV coinfection is now largely based on utilization of direct acting agents. Pretreatment viral resistant-associated variants (RAVs) and host liver condition may affect the sustained virological response. In this study, we explored relative prevalence of protease resistance-associated mutations, the evolution of those RAVs after 12 weeks of pegylated interferon alfa exposure, and the role hepatic fibrosis might have on RAV display.

METHODS

Thirty nonresponder HCV/HIV-coinfected subjects were evaluated before and after 12 weeks of PegIFN treatment. Ultra-deep sequence analysis of NS3 RAVs was performed. Hepatic fibrosis was determined by sensitive computer-assisted histomorphometry determination.

RESULTS

At baseline, protease inhibitor RAVs were present in 73.3% of patients and expanded to 83.3% of patients after 12 weeks of PegIFN exposure. Q80K showed the highest prevalence before and after treatment at 46.7% and 56.7%, respectively. The presence of Q80K is positively correlated with percent collagen content of the liver tissue.

CONCLUSIONS

Key RAVs for HCV protease inhibitors are present in a major portion of the HCV/HIV-coinfected population before therapy. Some variants get selected after exposure. Correlation of Q80K with collagen content of the liver suggests that compartmentalization within the liver may contribute to persistence of mutations less fit than wildtype.

Directly acting antivirals for hepatitis C virus arrive in HIV/hepatitis C virus co-infected patients: from 'mind the gap' to 'where's the gap?'

In patients living with HIV infection with hepatitis C (HCV) is common. HIV/HCV co-infection results in more rapid liver fibrosis progression than HCV alone and end-stage liver disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in co-infected patients. Historically, treatment outcomes with interferon based therapy in this group have been poor but with the advent of directly acting antiviral (DAA) drugs for HCV, rates of cure have improved dramatically. This article reviews recent evidence on the treatment of HCV in co-infected patients including the efficacy of new regimens and information on drug-drug interactions between DAAs and antiretroviral therapy. We also discuss the relationship between the pathogenesis of HIV and HCV infections, the treatment of acute hepatitis C and the current debate regarding the cost-effectiveness and affordability of DAAs.

Modulation of HCV replication after combination antiretroviral therapy in HCV/HIV co-infected patients

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an important contributor to morbidity and mortality in patients co-infected with HIV. Co-infection results in increased HCV replication and more rapid rates of liver disease progression. The effect of HIV combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) on HCV replication has not been studied in depth. To address this issue, we enrolled a small cohort of HCV/HIV co-infected patients into a cART initiation trial and used dynamic modeling combined with evaluation of immune responses and microarray profiles to determine how effective treatment of HIV affects HCV. Treatment with cART resulted in increased HCV replication and increased alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in a subset of patients. Subjects with evidence of hepatic injury (increased ALT) were more likely to have HCV-specific immune responses directed against HCV epitopes. Over time, HCV viral loads declined. Reproducible and biologically important gene expression changes occurred in co-infected patients who underwent successful cART. The effective suppression of HIV by cART initiated a cascade of early and late events in treated patients. Early events involving down-regulation of interferon-stimulated genes may have led to transiently increased viral replication and hepatic injury. At later time points, HCV viral load declined to levels comparable to those seen in the setting of HCV monoinfection. These findings support early antiretroviral therapy in those with HCV/HIV co-infection.

Progression of liver fibrosis in HIV/hepatitis C virus-coinfected individuals on antiretroviral therapy with early stages of liver fibrosis at baseline

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the study was to assess the progression of liver fibrosis in HIV/hepatitis C virus (HCV)-coinfected patients with no or mild-to-moderate fibrosis (stages F0-F2).

METHODS

Liver fibrosis was reassessed by transient elastometry (TE) between January 2009 and November 2011 in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients with stage F0-F2 fibrosis in a liver biopsy performed between January 1997 and December 2007. Patients with liver stiffness at the end of follow-up < 7.1 kPa were defined as nonprogressors, and those with values ≥ 9.5 kPa or who died from liver disease were defined as progressors. Cirrhosis was defined as a cut-off of 14.6 kPa. The follow-up period was the time between liver biopsy and TE. Cox regression models adjusted for age, gender and liver fibrosis stage at baseline were applied.

RESULTS

The median follow-up time was 7.8 years [interquartile range (IQR) 5.5-10 years]. The study population comprised 162 patients [115 (71%) nonprogressors and 47 (29%) progressors; 19 patients (11.7%) had cirrhosis]. The median time from the diagnosis of HCV infection to the end of follow-up was 20 years (IQR 16.3-23.1 years). Three progressors died from liver disease (1.8%). The variables associated with a lower risk of progression were age ≤ 38 years (hazard ratio (HR) 0.32; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.16-0.62; P = 0.001], having received interferon (HR 2.18; 95% CI 1.14-4.15; P = 0.017), being hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) negative (HR 0.20; 95% CI 0.04-0.92; P = 0.039), and baseline F0-F1 (HR 0.43; 95% CI 0.28-0.86; P = 0.017).

CONCLUSIONS

A high proportion of patients with stage F0-F2 fibrosis progress to advanced liver fibrosis. Advanced liver fibrosis must be included in the list of diseases associated with aging. Our results support the recommendation to offer HCV antiviral therapy to HIV/HCV-coinfected patients at early stages of liver fibrosis.

Changes in biomarkers of liver disease during successful combination antiretroviral therapy in HIV-HCV-coinfected individuals

BACKGROUND

We investigated changes in biomarkers of liver disease in HIV-HCV-coinfected individuals during successful combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) compared to changes in biomarker levels during untreated HIV infection and to HIV-monoinfected individuals.

METHODS

Non-invasive biomarkers of liver disease (hyaluronic acid [HYA], aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index [APRI], Fibrosis-4 [FIB-4] index and cytokeratin-18 [CK-18]) were correlated with liver histology in 49 HIV-HCV-coinfected patients. Changes in biomarkers over time were then assessed longitudinally in HIV-HCV-coinfected patients during successful cART (n=58), during untreated HIV-infection (n=59), and in HIV-monoinfected individuals (n=17). The median follow-up time was 3.4 years on cART. All analyses were conducted before starting HCV treatment.

RESULTS

Non-invasive biomarkers of liver disease correlated significantly with the histological METAVIR stage (P<0.002 for all comparisons). The mean ±sd area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve values for advanced fibrosis (≥F3 METAVIR) for HYA, APRI, FIB-4 and CK-18 were 0.86 ±0.05, 0.84 ±0.08, 0.80 ±0.09 and 0.81 ±0.07, respectively. HYA, APRI and CK-18 levels were higher in HIV-HCV-coinfected compared to HIV-monoinfected patients (P<0.01). In the first year on cART, APRI and FIB-4 scores decreased (-35% and -33%, respectively; P=0.1), mainly due to the reversion of HIV-induced thrombocytopaenia, whereas HYA and CK-18 levels remained unchanged. During long-term cART, there were only small changes (<5%) in median biomarker levels. Median biomarker levels changed <3% during untreated HIV-infection. Overall, 3 patients died from end-stage liver disease, and 10 from other causes.

CONCLUSIONS

Biomarkers of liver disease highly correlated with fibrosis in HIV-HCV-coinfected individuals and did not change significantly during successful cART. These findings suggest a slower than expected liver disease progression in many HIV-HCV-coinfected individuals, at least during successful cART.

In HIV/hepatitis C virus co-infected patients, higher 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations were not related to hepatitis C virus treatment responses but were associated with ritonavir use

BACKGROUND

Among patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) monoinfection, 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations are positively associated with a response to peg-interferon/ribavirin. Data on the relation between 25(OH)D concentrations and HCV treatment response in HIV-infected patients are limited.

OBJECTIVE

The objective was to determine whether baseline 25(OH)D concentrations predict virologic response in HIV/HCV co-infected patients and to examine variables associated with 25(OH)D concentrations ≥30 ng/mL.

DESIGN

Data and samples from 144 HCV genotype 1, treatment-naive patients from a completed HCV treatment trial were examined in this retrospective study. Early virologic response (EVR) was defined as ≥2 log10 reduction in HCV RNA and/or HCV RNA <600 IU/mL at week 12 of peg-interferon/ribavirin treatment. Baseline 25(OH)D was measured by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry.

RESULTS

Compared with the non-EVR control group (n = 68), the EVR group (n = 76) was younger, had fewer cirrhotic subjects, had a higher proportion with the IL28B CC genotype, had a higher albumin concentration, and had a lower HCV viral load at baseline (P ≤ 0.05). The difference in baseline 25(OH)D concentrations between EVR and non-EVR patients was not statistically significant (median: 25 ng/mL compared with 20 ng/mL; P = 0.23). Similar results were found for sustained virologic response (SVR). In multivariable analysis, white and Hispanic race-ethnicity (OR: 6.26; 95% CI: 2.47, 15.88; P = 0.0001) and ritonavir use (OR: 2.68; 95% CI: 1.08, 6.65; P = 0.033) were associated with higher 25(OH)D concentrations (≥30 ng/mL).

CONCLUSION

Baseline 25(OH)D concentrations did not predict EVR or SVR. Because ritonavir impairs the conversion of 25(OH)D to the active metabolite, utilization of 25(OH)D may have been impaired in subjects taking ritonavir. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00078403.

The effects of a maintenance therapy with peg-interferon alpha-2a on liver fibrosis in HIV/HCV co-infected patients: a randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

We hypothesized that, in Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Hepatitis C Virus (HIV/HCV) co-infected patients who did not respond to peg-interferon and ribavirin, a maintenance therapy with peg-interferon could induce fibrosis regression.

METHODS

This was a randomized study with two parallel groups. HIV/HCV co-infected patients received peg-interferon α-2a at 180 μg/week or remained on observation for 96 weeks. The primary endpoint was the percentage of patients who experienced a decrease of at least one point in their Metavir fibrosis score between initial and final liver biopsies. Secondary endpoints included plasma fibrosis markers at week 96, occurrence of HCV-related complications, and survival.

RESULTS

A total of 52 patients were randomized (peg-interferon: 25; control: 27) including 18 with cirrhosis. The median (interquartile range) age was 44 (40-46) years, and 69% were male. A total of 64% had ALT levels >1.5 normal values, and the CD4 cell count was 391 (296-537) cells/mm(3); 67% of patients had HIV RNA <200 copies/mL at entry. The main endpoint was assessed in 41 patients. Response rates were 3/20 (15%) and 4/21 (19%) in the peg-interferon and control groups, respectively (p = 0.99). There was no significant difference between peg-interferon and control groups on plasma fibrosis markers at the final visit. Severe liver-related complications were observed in 2 and 5 patients in peg-interferon and control groups, respectively. Three deaths were observed, all in the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

A maintenance therapy with peg-interferon α-2a over 96 weeks in HIV/HCV co-infected patients, who were non-responders to HCV treatment, did not change liver fibrosis. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00122616.

Hepatitis C Virus and HIV Type 1 Co-Infection

Around 33 million people worldwide are living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection, and approximately 20-30% of HIV-infected individuals are also infected with Hepatitis C virus (HCV). The main form of HCV transmission is via the blood borne route; high rates of co-infection are found in intravenous drug users with HCV prevalence rates as high as 90%. Introduction of effective antiretroviral therapy (ART) has led to a significant decline in HIV-related morbidity, but at the same time the incidence of HCV related liver disease is increasing in the co-infected population. Meta analysis has revealed that individuals who are co-infected with HIV/HCV harbor three times greater risk of progression to liver disease than those infected with HCV alone. Increased risk of progression to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and AIDS-related deaths is shown among the co-infected patients by some studies, suggesting that HCV infection may accelerate the clinical course of HIV infection. HCV may also affect the incidence of liver toxicity associated with ART, affecting the management of HIV infection. There is a lack of optimal therapeutic approaches to treat HCV infection in HIV co-infected patients. This review discusses recent literature pertaining HIV/HCV co-infection, in addition to providing a snapshot of impact of co-infection on human genome at the level of gene expression and its regulation by microRNAs (miRNAs).

Health-related quality of life in subjects with HCV/HIV coinfection: results from ACTG 5178 study

Although health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is diminished in HCV/HIV, the relationship between virologic response and maintenance therapy with HRQOL in this population is unknown. ACTG 5178 was a phase 2, randomized trial, with three steps - Step 1: all subjects received pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN)/ribavirin (P/R) for 12 weeks. Step 2: subjects who failed to achieve early viral response (EVR) were randomized to PEG-IFN or observational control for an additional 72 weeks. Step 3: subjects with EVR from step 1 continued on P/R for a total of 72 weeks with 24 weeks follow-up off-therapy. HRQOL, symptom distress and depression levels were measured at multiple time points. In step 1 (n = 329), there was a significant decline in HRQOL in all dimensions. In step 3 (n = 169), the overall HRQOL and three of its eight dimensions (general health, role function and pain score) were increased, and achievement of sustained virologic response was associated with increased general health and cognitive function. In step 2 (n = 85), there was no significant change in HRQOL and no significant difference between groups (PEG-IFN vs observational control). There was a significant decline in HRQOL during the initial 12 weeks of therapy. Thereafter, the HRQOL profile differed for subjects with EVR vs without EVR. Maintenance therapy with PEG-IFN had no impact on the HRQOL.

Extended therapy with pegylated interferon and weight-based ribavirin for HCV-HIV coinfected patients

BACKGROUND

It is unknown whether extended treatment with pegylated interferon (PEG) and weight-based ribavirin (WBR) results in higher rates of sustained viro-logic response (SVR) among HCV-HIV coinfected patients compared with standard duration therapy.

OBJECTIVE

The study aimed to measure rates of SVR among coinfected patients who received extended therapy with PEG plus WBR.

METHODS

HCVHIV coinfected subjects were treated with PEG and WBR, and those who achieved early virologic response (EVR; ≥ 2 log decrease in HCV RNA from baseline or HCV RNA<600 IU/mL) at week 12 were eligible to continue treatment for 72 weeks. SVR (HCV RNA<60 IU/mL) was measured 24 weeks after treatment discontinuation. Predictors of SVR were assessed in simple and multivariate logistic regression.

RESULTS

A total of 329 subjects enrolled at 36 sites. Of 184 subjects who achieved EVR, 169 entered Step 3: 89% male, 52% White, 29% Black, and 71% HCV treatment naïve. The overall SVR rate was 27% (95% CI, 22%-32%) among all subjects, and 33% (95% CI, 27%-40%) among the 223 who were HCV treatment naïve. In exploratory analyses, among 120 treatment-naïve subjects who entered Step 3, the SVR rate was 62% (95% CI, 52%-70%). In this subgroup, predictors of SVR were HCV genotype 2 or 3 (P = .03), HCV RNA <800,000 IU/mL at study entry (P = .05), and achievement of complete EVR (HCV RNA<600 IU/mL at week 12;P < .0001).

CONCLUSION

Among all subjects, we observed a comparable overall SVR rate to prior studies of subjects treated for 48 weeks. Extended treatment with PEG and WBR may be beneficial to subsets of coinfected patients, specifically those who are treatment naïve and achieve complete EVR.

Impact of peginterferon alpha and ribavirin treatment on lipid profiles and insulin resistance in Hepatitis C virus/HIV-coinfected persons: the AIDS Clinical Trials Group A5178 Study

BACKGROUND

The effect of peginterferon alpha/ribavirin (PEG-IFN/RBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) clearance on lipid and insulin resistance (IR) profiles in HCV/human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) coinfection is unknown.

METHODS

We measured fasting total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C), high-density lipoproteins (HDL-C), triglycerides (TG), glucose, and insulin at defined intervals in the A5178 study (N = 329), a prospective treatment trial in HCV/HIV coinfection. Changes from baseline and the relation between baseline values of these variables to sustained virologic response (SVR) were determined.

RESULTS

Of 182 subjects with metabolic data, 98 achieved early virologic response (EVR) and continued PEG-IFN/RBV. Among those, median pretreatment HCV RNA was 6.6 log(10 )IU/mL; 73% had HCV genotype 1. Median pretreatment TC was 176 mg/dL (interquartile range [IQR],150-205]; median LDL-C was 99 mg/dL (IQR, 79-123); median HDL-C was 40 mg/dL (IQR, 31-47); and median TG was 147 mg/dL (IQR, 101-221). Median homeostasis model assessment of IR (HOMA-IR) was 3.3 (IQR, 1.7-5.3). The EVRs demonstrated a decline in TC, LDL-C, and HDL-C, whereas TG increased on treatment but returned to near baseline 24 weeks after end of treatment (EOT). The HOMA-IR decline from entry to 24 weeks after EOT was significant among non-sustained virologic responders and nonsignificant among sustained virologic responders; this difference was offset after adjusting for higher HOMA-IR at baseline among the former. Among all 182 subjects, entry LDL-C was associated with SVR in a joint logistic model adjusted for HCV genotype, race, and prior IFN (odds ratio, 1.17 per 10 mg/dL increase; 95% confidence interval, 1.03-1.32), but TC, HDL, TG, and IR were not.

CONCLUSIONS

Peginterferon alpha and RBV can significantly affect lipid profile and IR in HCV/HIV-coinfected persons. Although the lipid profile returns to near pretreatment levels after completion of treatment, our data suggest persistent modest improvement in IR with treatment. Clinical Trials Registration. NCT00078403.

Randomized clinical trial: a pilot study investigating the safety and effectiveness of an escalating dose of peginterferon α-2a monotherapy for 48 weeks compared with standard clinical care in patients with hepatitis C cirrhosis

BACKGROUND

A substantial proportion of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) cirrhosis fail to eradicate infection and develop liver-related complications. Despite evidence that interferon-α has an antifibrotic effect, clinical trials have demonstrated that low-dose maintenance interferon does not improve outcomes in patients with compensated HCV cirrhosis following a lead-in phase of interferon. In a pilot study, we have investigated the efficacy of an escalating dose of pegylated interferon α-2a (PEG-IFN2a) as compared with standard clinical care in patients with more advanced HCV Child's A or B cirrhosis without a lead-in phase.

METHODS

In a prospective study, 40 patients were randomized to receive either standard clinical care (no further antiviral therapy) or 48 weeks of treatment with PEG-IFN2a starting at 90 mcg and escalating to 180 mcg weekly if tolerated. Patients were thereafter followed for a mean duration of 41 months. The primary outcome variables were liver-related death, all-cause mortality and sustained virological response. The secondary outcomes were 'liver-related events' and health-related quality of life.

RESULTS

Both groups were well matched, with treatment well tolerated. The incidences of all-cause mortality (P=0.024) and nononcological liver morbidity (P=0.04) were significantly higher in the control arm after a mean of 47 months of follow-up.

CONCLUSION

A 48-week escalating dose of PEG-IFN2a is associated with a significant reduction in all-cause mortality and nononcological liver-related morbidity in this trial. Further investigation of PEG-IFN2a is warranted for patients with advanced HCV-related cirrhosis for whom there is no other treatment and where transplantation is associated with rapid progression to cirrhosis.

Hepatitis C virus-human immunodeficiency virus coinfection

As a result of shared modes of transmission, chronic hepatitis C infection is common in HIV-infected patients, particularly among those who have used injection drugs as well as men who have sex with men (MSMs). In the era of effective antiretroviral therapy, HCV infection has emerged as a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Over the last decade, treatment with peginterferon (PEG-IFN) plus ribavirin (RBV) has been recommended for coinfected patients who are at the greatest risk for liver disease; however, the effectiveness of HCV treatment in this population has been disappointing. Challenges to the use of HCV NS3/4A protease inhibitors, telaprevir and boceprevir, patients with HIV/HCV coinfection include the potential for interactions between different drugs, addition of drug toxicities, and the need for therapy with PEG-IFN. Despite these challenges, limited data indicate that telaprevir and boceprevir given in combination with PEG-IFN/RBV increase the rate of viral suppression in coinfected patients with manageable toxicity and drug-drug interaction profile. Accordingly, these agents may be recommended for HCV treatment in carefully selected HIV-infected persons.

IL28B alleles exert an additive dose effect when applied to HCV-HIV coinfected persons undergoing peginterferon and ribavirin therapy

BACKGROUND

Genetic studies have demonstrated a strong association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at IL28B and response to treatment with peginterferon (PEG) and ribavirin (RBV) in HCV monoinfected persons. We sought to test these associations in a prospective PEG / weight based ribavirin (WBR) treatment trial (ACTG A5178) (National Institution of Health registration number NCT00078403) in persons with HCV-HIV coinfection, and to develop a prediction score.

METHODS

We selected subjects enrolled in A5178 who completed at least the first 12 weeks of the trial and had DNA available, and genotyped three SNPs at IL28B (rs12979860, rs12980275, rs8099917). We used multivariate logistic regression analysis to evaluate the association between IL28B SNPs and HCV treatment outcomes and to develop the prediction score.

RESULTS

231 HCV/HIV coinfected subjects were included. We observed a strong association between IL28B genotype and response to therapy among those with genotypes 1 or 4 (odds ratio for complete early virologic responses (cEVR) and sustained virologic response (SVR) was 2.98 [1.7-5.3] and 3.4 [1.7-6.9], respectively, for each additional copy of the C allele of rs12979860). Differences in frequency of the responder allele explained some of the discrepancy in HCV treatment outcomes between blacks and whites. A simple pretreatment prediction score that incorporates the IL28B genotype and baseline HCV viral load has a 93% negative predictive value (NPV) for SVR.

CONCLUSIONS

IL28B SNPs have an additive allele dose effect in predicting HCV treatment outcomes in HCV/HIV coinfected persons and can be incorporated into a simple pretreatment prediction score that could minimize the risk of exposure to PEG/RBV therapy for persons with unfavorable scores.

Chronic liver disease in the Hispanic population of the United States

Chronic liver disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among Hispanic people living in the United States. Environmental, genetic, and behavioral factors, as well as socioeconomic and health care disparities among this ethnic group have emerged as important public health concerns. We review the epidemiology, natural history, and response to therapy of chronic liver disease in Hispanic patients. The review covers nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, viral hepatitis B and C, coinfection of viral hepatitis with human immunodeficiency virus, alcoholic cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, autoimmune hepatitis, and primary biliary cirrhosis. For most of these disorders, the Hispanic population has a higher incidence and more aggressive pattern of disease and overall worse treatment outcomes than in the non-Hispanic white population. Clinicians should be aware of these differences in caring for Hispanic patients with chronic liver disease.

The incidence, predictors and management of anaemia and its association with virological response in HCV / HIV coinfected persons treated with long-term pegylated interferon alfa 2a and ribavirin

BACKGROUND

The association of anaemia with outcomes in the HCV/HIV coinfected persons undergoing HCV treatment remains unclear.

AIMS

To study the incidence, predictors and management of anaemia, and its association with outcomes among persons treated with pegylated interferon and weight-based ribavirin.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of a prospective controlled treatment trial of HCV/HIV coinfection.

RESULTS

Among 329 subjects enrolled, 40% developed anaemia during the first 12-18 weeks of treatment (median haemoglobin decrease at week 4: 2.2 g/dL). Among 169 subjects who achieved early virological response and received therapy for 72 weeks, 55% eventually developed anaemia. However, median haemoglobin levels stayed stable after 12-18 weeks of initial therapy. Among these 169 subjects, 45% were prescribed an erythropoiesis stimulating agent (ESA), with 17% receiving it prior to a drop in haemoglobin meeting protocol definition of anaemia. Only 27% completed the study without any ribavirin dose modification. Age >40 years, lower BMI, zidovudine use and lower entry haemoglobin were significant predictors of anaemia in the multi-covariate model. Among all 329, sustained virological response (SVR) rate was similar in those with or without anaemia (23% vs. 30%; P=0.17) with no evidence of association between anaemia or ESA use and treatment response.

CONCLUSIONS

Anaemia is common in HCV/HIV coinfected persons undergoing HCV treatment, and only a minority of them are able to maintain ribavirin dose. Persons with age >40 years, lower baseline haemoglobin and lower baseline BMI should be monitored carefully. Prescription of erythropoiesis stimulating agent is common, but anaemia or erythropoiesis stimulating agent use is not associated with SVR.