Suchergebnisse

IntroductionDue to drug‐drug interactions of HIV‐ and HCV‐specific antivirals when initiating an HCV‐therapy, the antiretroviral therapy (ART) often has to be changed. The spectrum of applicable antiretrovirals is small, therefore many patients were switched to raltegravir/truvada (RAL/TVD) in our cohort. Due to the relatively low genetic barrier of RAL, this regimen may be endangered to fail, if the NRTI backbone is not fully active because of pre‐existing NRTI resistance. We investigated the long‐term follow‐up and safety of RAL/TVD in co‐infected patients after hepatitis C virus (HCV) therapy was stopped and the protective antiretroviral effect of interferon ended.Materials and MethodsTwenty patients initiated a direct‐acting antiviral (DAA) containing HCV therapy (8x faldaprevir, 6x telaprevir, 2x daclatasvir and 4x simeprevir) between 11/2011 and 01/2013. Seventeen were switched to RAL/TVD, three patients were not treated before, but started with the regimen. Diagnosis of HIV infection was dated between 1985 and 2010. The HI‐viral suppression was monitored retrospectively to date.ResultsThirteen of the twenty patients (65%) remained on RAL/TVD after finishing HCV treatment, for seven patients, no data about their ART continuation was available, after HCV therapy had stopped. All remaining thirteen patients showed an HI‐viral load below detection limit up to date (for 15 to 22 months, median 20 months). Only for four patients, historic resistance data were available but none showed NRTI mutations.ConclusionsSwitch to RAL/TVD as HIV ART due to initiating HCV therapy was safe for the observed small cohort even in long‐term follow‐up without switchback or a second ART switch. However, resistance data for the cohort was little, showing no NRTI mutations, indicating a relatively safe setting. Since no further data is available, physicians should keep in mind ART history, historical therapy failure and HIV‐resistance while switching ART to treat HCV in co‐infected patients. Further investigation in larger cohorts is needed, especially thinking of upcoming interferon‐free HCV regimen in heavily pre‐treated co‐infected patients.

IntroductionAcute hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has emerged as a major cause of morbidity in the HIV‐infected population. Most guidelines recommend early treatment with pegylated interferon and ribavirin due to higher cure rates. The impact of acute HCV and its treatment on the outcome of the HIV‐infected population is unknown. With new treatment options for HCV, early treatment of acute HCV has to be questioned. Here, we report a long‐term analysis on patients with acute HCV.MethodsRetrospective analysis from an outpatient clinic from Berlin. All patients with the diagnosis of acute HCV according to The European AIDS Treatment Network (NEAT) criteria were included in the database at their date of HCV diagnosis and followed‐up until the last medical contact. Demographic data was taken from the medical file. A fibrosis estimation was performed using transient elastography (Fibroscan(®). A Fibroscan value above 7 kPa was considered as significant fibrosis, above 12.4 kPa as liver cirrhosis. The following outcomes were documented: (a) liver‐related: hepatic decompensation, cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma. (b) non‐liver‐related: death, myocardial infarction, AIDS‐defining event, psychiatric hospitalisation.ResultsA total of 207 cases of acute HCV infection in HIV‐infected patients were diagnosed between May 2002 and September 2013. All patients were male and declared homosexual contacts as their risk factor for having acquired HIV. The mean age was 39 years, 162 patients (78%) were on antiretroviral treatment, and the median CD4 cell count was 593/mm3 (IQR 443–749). At HCV diagnosis, the highest median alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level was 408 IU/mL (159–871), the HCV viral load was 800,000 IU/mL (45x103–2.8x106). 22 cases (11%) cleared their infection spontaneously, 161 (77%) underwent interferon‐based treatment. Of those treated, 58% had a sustained virological response. 36 cases of HCV reinfection were documented. All patients were followed‐up over an interval of 806 patient‐years. The median liver stiffness was 5.3 kPa (4–7) after a median interval of 34 months. 33 patients developed significant fibrosis, and 11 patients (6%) developed cirrhosis. Nine (5%) patients died during follow‐up, and 11 developed non‐liver‐related endpoints. All but one deceased patients had interferon‐based treatment.ConclusionsSevere hepatic disease and death rarely occurs in a highly treated HCV population. As interferon‐based treatment may induce side effects, it is from now on justified to await new HCV treatment options.

IntroductionGlobal HIV‐1 prevalence is 35.3 million [1]; women comprise >50% of those infected. The majority of women may lack regular care and only one‐fourth are virologically suppressed [2]. ELLA is a cross‐sectional, non‐interventional study conducted across Europe, Latin America, Canada and Asia that describes barriers to care for HIV‐infected women and associations with disease stage, symptoms and health‐related quality of life (HRQoL).MethodsHIV‐infected women eligible for ELLA (≥18 years) completed: Barrier to Care Scale (BACS) comprising 12 items in four domains (Index range 0–12, Overall range 1–4, greater=more barriers, Overall score ≥2 considered severe); AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG) Health Status Assessment comprising 21 items assessing 9 HRQoL domains (range 0–100, greater=better); and ACTG Symptom Distress Module comprising 20 symptoms rated on bother (range 0–4, greater=more bother). Healthcare providers documented medical history and HIV clinical data. Correlations of BACS response and last reported VL/CD4 count with HIV symptoms and HRQoL were analyzed. Spearman rank order was used to test correlations with statistical significance set at p<0.05.ResultsEnrollment: 1931 women from 30 countries; mean age 40 years (16.9% >50 years); 47.7% education <12 years; 36% unemployed; 82.9% urban residence. HIV was acquired heterosexually in 83.0%; 88.2% of subjects were on ART; 57.5% had VL<50 c/ml; mean CD4 was 540.5 c/µL. Mean [SD] BACS Index and Overall scores were 6.19 [3.47] (N=1818) and 2.09 [0.71] (N=1922), respectively. Stigma was a prominent barrier. Lower (better) BACS Index and Overall scores correlated with better HRQoL on all nine domains (p<0.0001). Lower VL and greater CD4 count were both correlated with better HRQoL for eight of nine domains (p<0.04, p≤0.0002, respectively) excepting pain. Lower BACS Index and Overall scores correlated with fewer symptom count and less symptom bother (p<0.0001). Fewer symptom count and less symptom bother correlated with better HRQoL on all nine domains (p<0.0001). While greater CD4 count correlated with fewer HIV symptoms and less bother (p<0.0001), VL did not significantly correlate with either.ConclusionsIn HIV‐infected women, reduced barriers to care correlated with fewer symptoms, less symptom bother and better HRQoL. Improved HRQoL may be mediated by greater CD4 counts and fewer symptoms. Better access to care may improve HRQoL outcomes in this population.