HCV infection and anti-retroviral treatment

We studied the changes in HCV-RNA and aminotransferases (AMT) levels during highly active anriretroviral treatment (HAART) in 8 HIV and HCV co-infected patients (Group A). Moreover, we compared the virological, immunological and biochemical response to antiretroviral combinations in anti-HIV positive subjects with or without HCV infection. For each patient in Group A, we selected an anti-HIV positive/anti-HCV negative patient, pair-matched for age, sex, parenteral risk factor, duration of infection, number of CD4 cells, viral load and treatment schedule (Group B). An increase of CD4 and a decrease of HIV-RNA in both Groups was found during HAART. The percentage of patients with undetectable HIV-RNA at the 1(st) month was higher in Group B than in Group A. All cases had high basal HCV-RNA and no variations during treatment were observed. During HAART AMT levels slightly decreased in Group A and increased in Group B.