HIV- and HCV-specific markers and echocardiographic pulmonary artery systolic pressure among United States veterans

Sci Rep. 2020 Oct 30;10(1):18729. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-75290-4.

Abstract

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) may increase pulmonary hypertension (PH) risk among people living with HIV (PLWH). Prior studies on this topic have been relatively small and examined selected populations. We determine whether HIV/HCV coinfection is associated with higher pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) and prevalent echocardiographic PH. We performed a cross-sectional analysis of 6032 (16% HIV/HCV coinfected) Veterans Aging Cohort Study participants enrolled 4/1/2003-9/30/2012 with echocardiographic PASP measures. We performed multiple linear and logistic regression analyses to determine whether HIV/HCV mono- or co-infection were associated with PASP and PH compared to uninfected individuals. Individuals with HIV/HCV coinfection displayed a higher PASP than uninfected individuals ([Formula: see text]=1.10, 95% CI 0.01, 2.20) but there was no association between HIV/HCV coinfection and prevalent PH. Subset analyses examined HIV and HCV disease severity markers separately and jointly. Among PLWH, HCV coinfection ([Formula: see text]=1.47, 95% CI 0.26, 2.67) and CD4 + cell count ([Formula: see text]= - 0.68, 95% CI - 1.10, - 0.27), but not HIV viral load nor ART regimen, were associated with PASP. Among people with HCV, neither HIV coinfection nor HCV biomarkers were associated with PASP. Among US veterans referred for echocardiography, HIV/HCV coinfection was not associated with a clinically significant elevation in pulmonary pressure. Lower absolute CD4 + T-cell count was inversely associated with PASP which warrants further investigation in prospective studies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Biomarkers / metabolism*
  • Blood Pressure / physiology
  • CD4 Lymphocyte Count
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Cohort Studies
  • Coinfection / virology
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Echocardiography
  • Female
  • HIV / pathogenicity*
  • Hepacivirus / pathogenicity*
  • Humans
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / virology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prospective Studies
  • Pulmonary Artery / physiology
  • United States
  • Veterans
  • Viral Load / physiology

Substances

  • Biomarkers