Effect of abacavir on sustained virologic response to HCV treatment in HIV/HCV co-infected patients, Cohere in Eurocoord.

Background: Contradicting results on the effect of abacavir (ABC) on hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment responses in HIV/HCV co-infected patients have been reported. We evaluated the influence of ABC on the response to pegylated interferon (pegIFN) and ribavirin (RBV)-containing HCV treatment in HIV/HCV co-infected patients in a large European cohort collaboration, including data from different European countries.

Methods: HIV/HCV co-infected patients were included if they were aged ≥16 years, received pegIFN alfa-2a or 2b and RBV combination treatment and were enrolled in the COHERE cohort collaboration.

TLR3 polymorphisms are associated with virologic response to hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment in HIV/HCV coinfected patients.

Background: Toll-like receptor-3 (TLR3) is a cellular receptor that may recognize double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) from viruses, resulting in production of proinflammatory cytokines and interferons, which are important for the adaptive immune response.

Objectives: To analyze the association between Toll-like receptor-3 (TLR3) polymorphisms (rs3775291 and rs13126816) and virologic response to pegylated interferon-alpha plus ribavirin (pegIFNα/RBV) therapy in HIV/HCV coinfected patients.

Study Design: We performed a retrospective study in 321 naïve patients treated with pegIFNα/RBV.

PPARγ2 Pro12Ala polymorphism is associated with sustained virological response in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients under HCV therapy.

Objectives: To analyze whether peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ2) rs1801282 (Pro12Ala) polymorphism is associated with the response to pegylated-interferon-alpha plus ribavirin treatment in HIV/hepatitis C virus (HCV)-coinfected patients, and whether it is able to predict the outcome of HCV treatment.

Design: Retrospective follow-up study.

Methods: Two hundred eighty-five naive patients, who started HCV-treatment, were genotyped for PPARγ2 and interleukin 28B polymorphisms.

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with severity of liver disease in HIV/HCV coinfected patients.

Objective: To study the association of plasma 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) levels in HIV/HCV coinfected patients with severity of liver disease and virological response to hepatitis C virus (HCV) therapy with pegylated-interferon-alpha plus ribavirin (pegIFNα/RBV).

Methods: A cross-sectional study in 174 HIV/HCV coinfected patients that underwent a liver biopsy previously to start HCV therapy and a retrospective study of 125 of them. Plasma 25(OH)D levels were quantified by enzyme immunoassay.

HLA-E variants are associated with sustained virological response in HIV/hepatitis C virus-coinfected patients on hepatitis C virus therapy.

Objectives: To analyze whether human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-E allelic variants are associated with and may predict response to peg-interferon (IFN) alpha and ribavirin treatment in HIV/hepatitis C virus (HCV)-coinfected patients.

Design: Retrospective follow-up study.

Methods: We studied 321 naive patients who started HCV treatment.

European mitochondrial haplogroups are associated with CD4+ T cell recovery in HIV-infected patients on combination antiretroviral therapy.

Background: There is substantial interindividual variability in the rate and extent of CD4+ T cell recovery after starting combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). The aim of our study was to determine whether mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroups are associated with recovery of CD4+ in HIV-infected patients on cART.

Methods: We carried out a retrospective study on 275 cART-naive patients with CD4+ counts <350 cells/mm(3), who were followed-up during at least 24 months after initiating cART.

Analysis of IL28B alleles with virologic response patterns and plasma cytokine levels in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients.

Objectives: To estimate the impact of interleukin 28B (IL28B) polymorphisms (rs12980275, rs8099917, rs7248668, and rs11881222) and their haplotypes on hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment (peg-interferon-α and ribavirin) success in 324 HIV/HCV-coinfected patients. We also explore the behavior of plasma cytokine levels.

Design: Retrospective follow-up study.

IL28B polymorphisms are associated with severity of liver disease in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients coinfected with hepatitis C virus.

Objective: To evaluate the association of IL28B polymorphisms and severity of liver disease among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfected patients.

Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional study on 223 patients. Liver biopsies were evaluated according to Metavir score.

Bacterial DNA translocation and liver disease severity among HIV-infected patients with chronic hepatitis C.

We carried out a cross-sectional study to explore whether bacterial 16S ribosomal DNA (bactDNA) shows association with severity of liver disease among human immunodeficiency virus/hepatitis C virus coinfected patients. Patients with advanced fibrosis (F3/F4), moderate activity grade (A2/A3), and high fibrosis progression rate (FPR > 0.15) had higher values of plasma bactDNA levels than did patients without these markers of liver disease (P < 0.

Plasma IL-6 and IL-9 predict the failure of interferon-α plus ribavirin therapy in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients.

Background: The cytokine profile plays an important role in treatment outcome of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, and probably modulates the immune response against HCV. The aim of this study was to evaluate which cytokines affect the response to interferon-α (IFN-α) and ribavirin therapy and how these cytokines change 72 weeks after starting anti-HCV therapy in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients.

Methods: We carried out a retrospective follow-up study of 65 patients on anti-HCV therapy.

High plasma CXCL10 levels are associated with HCV-genotype 1, and higher insulin resistance, fibrosis, and HIV viral load in HIV/HCV coinfected patients.

Background: CXCL10 may contribute to the host immune response against the hepatitis C virus (HCV), liver disease progression, and response to HCV antiviral therapy. The aim of our study was to analyze the relationship among virological, immunological, and clinical characteristics with plasma CXCL10 levels in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/HCV-coinfected patients.

Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional study on 144 patients.

[Socio-demographic factors associated with the progression of HIV infection and the impact of HAART in a seroconverter cohort in Madrid (1986-2009)].

Background: The objective of this work is to study the impact of HAART at a population level and to identify socio-demographic factors that may affect it, which is essential for deciding interventions.

Methods: An open, prospective cohort of HIV seroconverters recruited in the Centro Sanitario Sandoval (1986-2009), and followed up in collaboration with referral hospitals in the Comunidad Autónoma de Madrid. Cumulative incidence of AIDS and death was calculated by the multiple decrements method, and predictive Fine & Gray models were developed to identify associated factors.

Dyslipidaemia in HIV-infected women on antiretroviral therapy. Analysis of 922 patients from the Spanish VACH cohort.

Background: Information concerning lipid disturbances in HIV-infected women on antiretroviral therapy (ART) is scarce. The objective of the study is to describe the lipid profile in a large cohort of HIV-infected women on contemporary ART and analyse differences between regimes and patient's characteristics.

Methods: Observational, multicentre, cross-sectional study from the Spanish VACH Cohort.

European mitochondrial DNA haplogroups and metabolic disorders in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy.

Background: Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroups play an important role in susceptibility to metabolic disorders and cardiovascular disease.

Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional study in 248 HIV/hepatitis C virus-coinfected patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy to investigate whether mtDNA haplogroups had any influence on metabolic disorders. mtDNA genotyping was performed using the Sequenom MassARRAY platform.

European mitochondrial DNA haplogroups and liver fibrosis in HIV and hepatitis C virus coinfected patients.

Background: HIV infection, hepatitis C virus (HCV) liver disease, and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) polymorphisms are three possibly interrelated factors that might be associated with progression of liver disease. The aim of this study was to investigate whether mtDNA haplogroups had any influence on liver fibrosis progression in HIV/HCV coinfected patients.

Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional study in 231 patients who were genotyped via Sequenom's MassARRAY platform (San Diego, California, USA).

Sustained virological response to interferon-α plus ribavirin decreases inflammation and endothelial dysfunction markers in HIV/HCV co-infected patients.

Objectives: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) antiviral therapy might lead to decreased chronic immune activation and endothelial dysfunction associated with cardiovascular risk. The aim was to evaluate the effect of HCV eradication on serum markers of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction markers in HIV/HCV co-infected patients.

Methods: We carried out a retrospective study of 69 HIV/HCV co-infected patients on interferon (IFN)-α plus ribavirin.

An artificial neural network improves the non-invasive diagnosis of significant fibrosis in HIV/HCV coinfected patients.

Objective: To develop an artificial neural network to predict significant fibrosis (F≥2) (ANN-SF) in HIV/Hepatitis C (HCV) coinfected patients using clinical data derived from peripheral blood.

Methods: Patients were randomly divided into an estimation group (217 cases) used to generate the ANN and a test group (145 cases) used to confirm its power to predict F≥2. Liver fibrosis was estimated according to the METAVIR score.

Can serum hyaluronic acid replace simple non-invasive indexes to predict liver fibrosis in HIV/Hepatitis C coinfected patients?

Background: Hyaluronic acid (HA) serum levels correlate with the histological stages of liver fibrosis in hepatitis C virus (HCV) monoinfected patients, and HA alone has shown very good diagnostic accuracy as a non-invasive assessment of fibrosis and cirrhosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate serum HA levels as a simple non-invasive diagnostic test to predict hepatic fibrosis in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients and to compare its diagnostic performance with other previously published simple non-invasive indexes consisting of routine parameters (HGM-1, HGM-2, Forns, APRI, and FIB-4).

Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional study on 201 patients who all underwent liver biopsies and had not previously received interferon therapy.

Hepatitis C virus infection is associated with endothelial dysfunction in HIV/hepatitis C virus coinfected patients.

Objective: To quantify serum levels of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) in HIV/HCV coinfected patients to examine their association with several clinical and epidemiological characteristics and the therapeutic responsiveness to interferon (IFN)-alpha and ribavirin therapy (IFN-alpha + RBV).

Design: Retrospective study.

Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional study with 183 IFN-alpha-naive patients on HAART, and 24 healthy controls.

Insulin resistance impairs response to interferon plus ribavirin in patients coinfected with HIV and hepatitis C virus.

Background/aims: Controversy exists about whether insulin resistance (IR) affects response to treatment of hepatitis C. We evaluated the effect of IR on sustained virologic response (SVR) in HIV/hepatitis C virus (HCV)-coinfected patients treated with interferon plus ribavirin.

Methods: We reviewed the clinical records of HIV/HCV-coinfected patients who received interferon plus ribavirin at our institution between July 2000 and March 2007.

Characteristics and outcome of HIV infection in gypsies in the Spanish VACH Cohort.

Objective: To study the characteristics of HIV infection in the gypsy (Roma) population in Spain, as compared with those of the Caucasian, non-gypsy majority.

Design: Cross-sectional, historical cohort study from the Spanish VACH Cohort.

Methods: Patients attending VACH clinics between 1 June 2004 and 30 November 2004 were classified according to their racial and ethnic origin as "gypsies", Caucasian non-gypsy Spanish natives (CNGN), and "other" (the last being excluded from this study).