Long-Term Liver Diseases after Initiation of Antiretroviral Therapy in HIV-Infected Patients with and without HBV or HCV Coinfection

Abstract

Coinfection of hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) with HIV is common and associated with increased mortality and increased risk of progression to chronic liver disease. We aimed to study long-term liver diseases after initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in HIV-infected patients with and without HBV or HCV coinfection. A retrospective cohort of 92 patients (32 patients with HBV and/or HCV coinfection) was analyzed. Overall mean age was 38.3 years, and 54.3% were males. Immunological and virological responses were similar between the 2 groups (P >.05). During a median follow-up period of 6.1 years, 12 (13.0%) patients had liver diseases. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the coinfection group had a significantly higher probability of developing liver diseases after ART (log-rank test, P <200 cells/mm3 had a higher rate of liver diseases compared to those who were initiated ART at CD4 count ≥200 cells/mm3 (42.3% versus 16.7%; P =.004).