Hepatitis C virus activation in HIV-infected patients initiating highly active antiretroviral therapy

AIDS Patient Care STDS. 2007 Oct;21(10):718-23. doi: 10.1089/apc.2007.0017.

Abstract

We describe repeated episodes of hepatitis C (HCV) activation associated with initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in two HIV/HCV coinfected individuals with undetectable serum HCV RNA. Both patients developed high HCV viremia (>1 million IU/mL) and elevations in aminotransferases >10 times upper limit of normal) within 4 months of starting HAART. This is the first report of clinically significant HCV activation in HCV-seropositive patients with initially undetectable HCV viremia. These observations suggest that flares of hepatitis C in the setting of the immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome can occur even in those patients who have undetectable serum HCV levels prior to HAART initiation.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anti-HIV Agents / adverse effects
  • Anti-HIV Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active* / adverse effects
  • HIV Infections / complications*
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy*
  • Hepacivirus / drug effects*
  • Hepacivirus / physiology
  • Hepatitis C / complications*
  • Humans
  • Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome / complications
  • Male
  • Viral Matrix Proteins / blood
  • Viremia
  • Virus Activation / drug effects*

Substances

  • Anti-HIV Agents
  • Viral Matrix Proteins