HCV doubling the risk of AIDS

HIV infection and hepatitis C virus (HCV) two times greater risk of developing AIDS-defining illnesses (AIDS-defining illness / ADI) than people only infected with HIV. That's according to a study published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases, July 10, 2009 edition.

A number of studies show that HIV is accelerating the development of HCV disease. However, it is not clear what the impact of HCV on HIV disease progression. Research is contradictory. Only a few studies that studied the potential increased risk of developing AIDS-Defining ADI or Illness in people coinfected.



To determine the risk in people coinfected ADI, Antonella d'Arminio MD, at the University of Milan, and colleagues examined the medical records of 5397 HIV-positive patients in ICONA Foundation Cohort Study. Most of the patients enrolled in the cohort in 1998, but several new registered 2008. Among these patients, also infected with HCV 2421, and 2976 did not. CD4 cell count averaged 418 in co-infected group and 458 in the group without HCV infection. Approximately a third were women.

There are 496 ADI in both groups. ADI development level two times higher in the coinfected group, after adjusting for other risk factors. ADI levels three times higher on the development of fungal infections, wasting, dementia and bacterial infections such as tuberculosis (TB) and Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC). People taking antiretroviral therapy (ART) is less than the ADI may develop that are not on antiretroviral therapy. People with severe liver damage (cirrhosis) are also more likely to experience the ADI.