Eradication of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Reduces Immune Activation, Microbial Translocation, and the HIV DNA Level in HIV/HCV-Coinfected Patients.

Background: There are contradictory data about the influence that hepatitis C virus (HCV) has on immune activation and inflammation in patients coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and HCV.

Methods: HIV/HCV-coinfected patients receiving antiretroviral treatment who achieved a sustained virological response with interferon-free regimens were consecutively enrolled in a prospective study. The following factors were assessed before, immediately after the end of, and 1 month after the end of therapy: expression of HLA-DR/CD38, PD-1, and CD57 on CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells; measurement of the total HIV DNA load in peripheral blood mononuclear cells; and determination of plasma levels of soluble CD14 (sCD14), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA), interleukin 6 (IL-6), D-dimers, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP).