HCV对HIV/HCV共感染患者病情进展的影响

目的探讨HCV对HIV/HCV共感染病情进展的影响。方法研究对象为2012年8月到北京佑安医院随访的HIV/HCV共感染者29例及HIV单独感染者20例。两组患者年龄、性别及HIV感染时间及感染方式、感染的HIV病毒亚型均具有可比性。外周血生化指标检测并采用瞬时弹性扫描仪FibroScan评估肝脏功能及纤维化程度,运用流式细胞技术检测外周血CD4+T、CD8+T细胞绝对计数。两组计量资料比较采用t检验,计数资料比较采用χ2检验。结果 HIV/HCV共感染组ALT、AST及TBil水平分别为(76.16±81.25)U/L、(87.66±71.32)U/L、(14.21±9.56)μmol/L,明显高于HIV单独感染组[(27.74±20.63)U/L、(45.65±16.95)U/L、(10.26±3.22)μmol/L],差异具有统计学意义(P值分别为0.004、0.005及0.046)。与HIV单独感染组相比,HIV/HCV共感染组Stiffness指数有升高的趋势,但差异无统计学意义(t=1.889,P=0.080)。HIV/HCV共感染组HIV病毒载量(拷贝/ml)的对数值为3.66±0.97明显高于HIV单独感染组的3.02±0.90(t=2.251,P=0.030)。HIV/HCV共感染组、HIV单独感染组CD4+T淋巴细胞计数及CD4+T/CD8+T细胞比例分别为(374.25±185.48)/μl及(0.33±0.17)、(496.45±230.98)/μl及(0.46±0.27),HIV/HCV共感染组CD4+T淋巴细胞计数及CD4+T/CD8+T细胞比例低于HIV单独感染组,差异具有统计学意义,P值分别为0.048、0.043。共感染组艾滋病发病率(27.59%)呈现出较HIV单独感染组(5%)高的趋势(P=0.063)。结论HCV促进HIV/HCV共感染者肝脏损伤,增强HIV复制,加剧机体免疫功能损伤,HCV可能加速HIV/HCV共感染者的病情进展。     

血友病合并HIV/HCV感染者肝功能异常的相关因素分析

目的探讨血友病合并艾滋病病毒/丙型肝炎病毒(HIV/HCV)感染者CD4计数和HIV病毒载量,与HIV/HCV重叠感染者肝功能异常的相关性。方法观察了63例血友病合并HIV/HCV感染者,据CD4计数和HIVRNA阳性情况,比较肝功能异常的发生率与细胞免疫、HIVRNA阳性的相关性。结果CD4≤200细胞/mm3者20例中,有肝功能异常者14例,与CD4计数>200细胞/mm3组肝功能异常发生率有统计学差异(P<0.05)。HIVRNA阳性的38例中,有肝功能异常者22例,与HIVRNA阴性组肝功能异常发生率有统计学差异(P<0.05)。肝功能异常组的CD4计数较肝功能正常组为低,HIVRNA定量较正常组为高,其差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论CD4计数和HIVRNA阳性情况,可作为血友病合并HIV/HCV感染者肝功能异常的预测因素。     

HIV/HCV重叠感染患者病情进展的相关因素研究

探讨HIV/HCV重叠感染患者病情进展的原因和影响预后的相关因素.选择HIV/HCV重叠感染患者这一特定人群,按照疾病进展分成艾滋病组(AIDS)和HIV感染组(free of AIDS),回顾性分析两组间免疫功能、HIV病毒载量、肝脏功能的差异,探讨可能影响病情进展的相关因素.艾滋病组与HIV感染组比较:艾滋病组患者的细胞免疫功能(CD 4T、CD 8T)均低于HIV感染组,差异非常显著(P＜0.001;P=0.003);HIV病毒载量在艾滋病组明显高于HIV感染组,差异显著(P=0.005);艾滋病组的肝脏功能(ALT、AST)明显高于HIV感染组(P值分别为0.043、0.002);蛋白合成指标(TP、ALB)艾滋病组较HIV感染组低下,差异非常显著(P＜0.001).以Logistic回归分析,CD 4T、感染时间和ALB是预测疾病进展的独立危险因素(P＜0.001).回归方程预测准确率为97.0%.HIV/HCV重叠感染可加快病情进展,ALB与CD 4T细胞数及感染时间是预测艾滋病病程进展的独立危险因素.     

Fibrosis progression in paired liver biopsies from HIV/HCV co-infected patients

Background

Chronic hepatitis C is more aggressive during HIV infection. Available data about risk factors of liver fibrosis in HIV/HCV co-infected patients derive from studies based on a single liver biopsy.

Objectives

To evaluate the risk factors of liver fibrosis progression (LFP) and to investigate the role of antiretroviral therapy (ARV) in HIV/HCV patients who underwent paired liver biopsy.

Patients and Methods

We retrospectively studied 58 patients followed at two Infectious Diseases Departments in Northern Italy during the period 1988-2005. All specimens were double-blinded and centrally examined by two pathologists. LFP was defined when an increase of at least one stage occurred in the second biopsy, according to the Ishak-Knodell classification.

Results

In a univariate analysis, serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) > 150 IU/L at the first biopsy (P = 0.02), and a > 20% decrease in CD4+ cell count between the two biopsies (P = 0.007), were significantly associated with LFP. In multivariate analysis, a > 20% decrease in CD4+ cell count remained independently associated to LFP (Odds Ratio, 3.99; 95% confidence interval, 1.25-12.76; P < 0.02). Analysis of life survival curves confirmed the correlation between CD4+ cell count and LFP.

Conclusions

Our findings highlight that in HIV/HCV coinfected patients, an effective antiretroviral therapy that assures a good immune-virological profile contributes to reducing the risk of LFP.     

Early evolution of hepatitis C virus (HCV) quasispecies after liver transplant for HCV-related disease

BACKGROUND: End-stage liver disease as a result of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the main indication for liver transplant (LT), but allografts are systematically infected with HCV soon after transplant. Viral quasispecies are poorly described during the early posttransplant period. METHODS: For 17 patients who received an LT for HCV disease, plasma viral quasispecies evolution was determined by sequence analysis of hypervariable region 1 of the E2 envelope gene before transplant (BT), after 7 days (D7), and after 1 month (M1). T helper (Th)1/Th2 cytokine levels were determined concomitantly. RESULTS: HCV quasispecies showed a significant decrease in amino acid diversity at D7 and M1, compared with BT (P<.05). A correlation was observed between low plasma tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels at D7 and decreased quasispecies amino acid complexity at the same date. Nucleic acid diversity was lower for genotype 1 than for genotype 3 infection (P<.05). The complexity and diversity of amino acids were lower in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) BT than in those without HCC (P<.05). Conserved amino acid residues within quasispecies were shared by the whole cohort before and after LT. CONCLUSION: Viral structural and/or host immunological features could favor the emergence of fitter HCV strains after LT.     

上海地区HIV/HCV重叠感染者HCV准种的分子流行病学研究

目的 观察HIV/HCV重叠感染和高效抗反转录病毒治疗(HAART)对HCV准种的影响.方法 通过PCR、测序及单链构象多态性分析建立HCV高变1区(HVR1)准种变异率检测方法,运用该方法对我国上海地区48例HIV/HCV重叠感染者HCV准种变异的分子流行病学进行研究.结果 与单独HCV感染组和HIV/HCV重叠感染...     

Hypovitaminosis D and osteopenia/osteoporosis in a haemophilia population: a study in HCV/HIV or HCV infected patients

Recent reports show a correlation between haemophilia and osteoporosis. HIV, HCV and their treatments are independently associated with an increased risk of osteoporosis. Vitamin D plays a pivotal role in bone mineralization. The aim of our study was to compare Vitamin D levels, bone metabolism markers and bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with haemophilia with or without co‐infections. Seventy‐eight adult patients with severe or moderate haemophilia A or B were subdivided into three groups of 26 patients each (HIV‐HCV co‐infected, HCV mono‐infected and uninfected). The BMD was measured by dual energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA) at both the femoral area (F) and lumbar spine (L). This was correlated to laboratory values and haemophilic arthropathy was assessed using validated clinical and radiological scores. The DXA showed a homogeneous F‐BMD reduction in all the three groups, whereas L‐BMD was significantly lower in co‐infected patients (P < 0.05). The clinical score was higher in co‐infected (P < 0.002) and mono‐infected (P < 0.006). The radiological score was higher in mono‐infected than in the other two groups (P < 0.001). Overall 25‐hydroxyvitamin D (25‐OH Vit D) was reduced (87%). Bone‐specific alkaline phosphatase (b‐ALP) and telopeptide were increased in co‐infected (P < 0.001 and P < 0.01) and mono‐infected (P < 0.001 and P < 0.02). The result of the homogeneous F‐BMD reduction in all groups could be explained by the pivotal role of arthropathy; the lower L‐BMD in co‐infected and the increase of b‐ALP and telopeptide in co‐infected and mono‐infected groups suggest faster bone metabolism in case of infections.     

HCV in patients with end-stage renal disease

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains an important cause of liver disease in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and conversely, renal failure has a significant impact on morbidity and mortality throughout the natural history of chronic HCV and its treatment. With improved awareness within dialysis units of the potential for spread and the institution of preventative measures, the prevalence of HCV infection in the hemodialysis-dependent population has continued to decline since 1995. Use of HCV (+) donor kidneys is associated with an increase in the prevalence of liver disease, but when compared with continued hemodialysis, transplantation using these kidneys is associated with improved survival. Overall, survival in patients with chronic HCV infection appears to be better after renal transplantation when compared with maintenance hemodialysis, and transplant should be considered for these patients. Data support the use of interferon and the improved efficacy of pegylated interferon formulations for treatment of chronic HCV infection in ESRD patients, although tolerability continues to be troublesome. The newest and most promising data regarding the treatment of HCV in ESRD involve the combination of reduced dose ribavirin with interferon or pegylated interferon suggesting similar enhancements in sustained virologic response (SVR) as seen in non-ESRD patients, but caution is advised, as all studies to date used ribavirin plasma concentration monitoring in patient with ESRD. Finally, with regard to postrenal transplant treatment of HCV infection, there is no evidence to support treatment with interferon-based therapy and pretransplant treatment remains the best option whenever possible.     

Low HCV replication levels in end-stage hepatitis C virus-related liver disease.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The relationship between HCV RNA levels and the severity of HCV-related liver disease has been addressed in a few studies, which has led to conflicting results. To clarify this point, we studied serum HCV RNA levels in patients with HCV liver disease at various stages, using a second-generation branched DNA (bDNA) assay. METHODS: One hundred and forty-eight patients with chronic HCV infection were classified into 3 groups: group A included 92 patients with chronic active hepatitis (CAH) without cirrhosis; group B included 30 patients with CAH and compensated cirrhosis; group C included 26 patients with end-stage cirrhosis. In all patients, serum HCV RNA was sought by qualitative PCR and quantified using second-generation bDNA assay. HCV RNA was also quantified after liver transplantation in 22 patients from group C. HCV genotype was determined in all patients. RESULTS: HCV RNA was detected by PCR in 100%, l00% and 92% of the patients from groups A, B and C, respectively (NS). The proportion of patients with HCV RNA levels higher than the cut-off of bDNA assay was significantly lower in patients from group C than in patients from groups A and B (50% vs 94% and 93% respectively, p<0.0001). The mean HCV viremia was lower in group C than in groups A and B (1.35+/-0.24 MEq/ml vs 5.00+/-6.04 MEq/ml and 5.85+/-7.70 MEq/ml, respectively, p<0.0001). This difference was independent of HCV genotype. In the patients from group C, post-transplant HCV RNA levels were significantly higher than pretransplant HCV RNA levels (14.90+/-26.40 vs 1.35+/-0.24 MEq/ml, p=0.0065). CONCLUSIONS: HCV RNA levels do not appear to differ significantly among patients with CAH with or without compensated cirrhosis. In contrast, HCV RNA levels seem to be significantly lower in patients with end-stage HCV-related liver cirrhosis. In these patients, high levels of replication are restored after liver transplantation, suggesting that low pretransplant viral loads are not due to the intrinsic characteristics of the infective viral strains, but rather to the severity of liver disease.     

Early changes in quasispecies repertoire in HIV-infected infants: correlation with disease progression

The evolution of HIV-1 quasispecies in patients during the first year of life was investigated in 10 vertically infected infants, using heteroduplex analysis of the V3-V5 region of env. Four subjects, who showed little viral evolution during the period of the study, had rapid progression of disease and early loss of CD4(+) cells. The remaining six subjects, who were slow progressors, evolved new viral variants within 6 months, and in one case by 1 month of age. Of the four patients who were PCR positive at birth, one was infected with multiple HIV-1 variants. These results show that in HIV-infected children, multiple variants may initiate infection and early quasispecies diversification is associated with a favorable clinical outcome.     

Outcomes of liver transplantation for end-stage biliary disease: A comparative study with end-stage liver disease

AIM: To evaluate the outcomes of patients with endstage biliary disease(ESBD) who underwent liver transplantation, to define the concept of ESBD, the criteria for patient selection and the optimal operation for decision-making.METHODS: Between June 2002 and June 2014, 43 patients with ESBD from two Chinese organ transplantation centres were evaluated for liver transplantation. The causes of liver disease were primary biliary cirrhosis(n = 8), cholelithiasis(n = 8), congenital biliary atresia(n = 2), graft-related cholangiopathy(n = 18), Caroli's disease(n = 2), iatrogenic bile duct injury(n = 2), primary sclerosing cholangitis(n = 1), intrahepatic bile duct paucity(n = 1) and Alagille's syndrome(n = 1). The patients with ESBD were compared with an end-stage liver disease(ESLD) case control group during the same period, and the potential prognostic values of multiple demographic and clinical variables were assessed. The examined variables included recipient age, sex, pre-transplant clinical status, pre-transplant laboratory values, operation condition and postoperative complications, as well as patient and allograft survival rates. Survival analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier curves, and the rates were compared using log-rank tests. All variables identified by univariate analysis with P values 0.100 were subjected to multivariate analysis. A Cox proportional hazard regression model was used to determine the effect of the study variables on outcomes in the study group.RESULTS: Patients in the ESBD group had lower model for end-stage liver disease(MELD)/paediatric end-stage liver disease(PELD) scores and a higher frequency of previous abdominal surgery compared to patients in the ESLD group(19.2 ± 6.6 vs 22.0 ± 6.5, P = 0.023 and 1.8 ± 1.3 vs 0.1 ± 0.2, P = 0.000). Moreover, theoperation time and the time spent in intensive care were significantly higher in the ESBD group than in the ESLD group(527.4 ± 98.8 vs 443.0 ± 101.0, P = 0.000, and 12.74 ± 6.6 vs 10.0 ± 7.5, P = 0.000). The patient survival rate in the ESBD group was not significantly different from that of the ESBD group at 1, 3 and 5 years(ESBD: 90.7%, 88.4%, 79.4% vs ESLD: 84.9%, 80.92%, 79.0%, χ2 = 0.194, P = 0.660). The graftsurvival rates were also similar between the two groups at 1, 3 and 5 years(ESBD: 90.7%, 85.2%, 72.7% vs ESLD: 84.9%, 81.0%, 77.5%, χ2 = 0.003, P = 0.958). Univariate analysis identified MELD/PELD score(HR = 1.213, 95%CI: 1.081-1.362, P = 0.001) and bleeding volume(HR = 0.103, 95%CI: 0.020-0.538, P = 0.007) as significant factors affecting the outcomes of patients in the ESBD group. However, multivariate analysis revealed that MELD/PELD score(HR = 1.132, 95%CI: 1.005-1.275, P = 0.041) was the only negative factor that was associated with short survival time.CONCLUSION: MELD/PELD criteria do not adequately measure the clinical characteristics and staging of ESBD. The allocation system based on MELD/PELD criteria should be re-evaluated for patients with ESBD.     

Antibodies to HIV in Israeli hemophiliacs: relationship between serological profile and disease development

We studied 66 Israeli hemophiliacs for antibodies to HIV in blood samples collected between 1978 and 1985. By May 1985, 2 had AIDS, 2 had ARC, 4 had lymphadenopathy with some immunologic dysfunction, and 58 were asymptomatic. Antibodies to HIV were detected in 40 (60.6%) patients, including all 8 with disease. Presence of HIV antibodies was significantly associated with receipt of non-heat-treated commercial factor VIII concentrates (NHT fac VIII) between 1980 and 1983. Thirty-eight of 45 (84.44%) patients treated with NHT fac VIII developed antibodies to HIV, compared to 1 of 16 (6.25%) treated with cryoprecipitates and fresh plasma only. Of 40 seropositive patients, 1 (2.5%) had antibodies by 1980, 4 (10%) by 1982, 14 (35%) by 1983, 10 (25.0%) by 1984, and 11 (27.5%) by May 1985. The decline in the rate of seroconversion can be attributed to the replacement of NHT fac VIII concentrate with heat-inactivated factor VIII (HT fac VIII) concentrate by November 1983. As of January 1984 only HT fac VIII was administered. Twenty-nine multitransfused thalassemia patients as well as 20 healthy Israeli blood donors were seronegative to HIV. All 40 (100%) seropositive hemophiliacs had antibodies to viral env gene encoded gp120/gp160 antigens. Twenty-four (60.05%) also had antibodies to viral gag gene encoded p24 and/or p55 antigens. While antibodies to gp120/160 persisted during the follow-up time, a loss of antibodies to p24/55 was observed in 5 of 16 (31.25%) seropositive patients from whom multiple samples were available. gp120/160 positive, p24/55 negative hemophiliacs had significantly lower absolute T-helper cell counts and reversed Th/Ts ratios when compared to gp120/160 p24/55 seropositive patients. Four of the 16 (25.0%) asymptomatic gp120/160 positive, p24/55 negative patients developed overt disease within 15 months of the last blood collection. The data suggest that exposure to HIV antigens is widespread among hemophiliacs in Israel, and can be attributed to receipt of NHT fac VIII concentrates prior to 1984. Antibodies to gp120/160 are of the most important diagnostic value while loss of antibodies to p24/p55 may be of prognostic value.