Reconstitution of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-specific T cell responses with treatment of human immunodeficiency virus/HBV coinfection

J Infect Dis. 2003 Dec 15;188(12):1815-9. doi: 10.1086/379896. Epub 2003 Dec 8.

Abstract

Liver-related mortality is an increasing problem in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/hepatitis B virus (HBV)-coinfected patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). In HIV-negative patients, HBV chronicity is associated with a reduction in specific T cell responses that can be partially restored by treatment with lamivudine. We studied 5 HIV/HBV-coinfected patients treated with HAART, either with or without addition of a drug with specific anti-HBV activity. Our data show that reconstitution of some HBV-specific T cell responses can also occur in HIV-positive patients after a reduction in HBV load. This potential to recover T cell responses, which has been thought to be critical for HBV control, provides support for the addition of anti-HBV therapy in the treatment of HIV/HBV-coinfected patients.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-HIV Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use*
  • CD4 Lymphocyte Count
  • CD4-CD8 Ratio
  • HIV Seropositivity / complications*
  • HIV Seropositivity / drug therapy*
  • HIV Seropositivity / immunology
  • HIV-1 / isolation & purification*
  • Hepatitis B / complications*
  • Hepatitis B / drug therapy*
  • Hepatitis B / immunology
  • Hepatitis B virus / isolation & purification*
  • Humans
  • Lamivudine / therapeutic use
  • Species Specificity
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Viral Load

Substances

  • Anti-HIV Agents
  • Antiviral Agents
  • Lamivudine