Nevirapine-based antiretroviral therapy is associated with lower plasma hepatitis C virus viral load among HIV/ hepatitis C Virus-Coinfected patients

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between the use of protease inhibitor (PI)-, nevirapine (NVP)- and efavirenz (EFV)-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) and plasma hepatitis C virus (HCV) viral load in a population of HIV/HCV-coinfected patients. Patients and Methods: We examined the relationship between the use of NVP-, PIs- and EFV-based ART and the plasma HCV viral load in HIV-infected patients without previous therapy against HCV. Results: The median HCV-RNA level (log10 IU/mL) was significantly lower in patients receiving NVP (5.7; Q1-Q3, 5.2-5.8) than in subjects treated with EFV (6.0; Q1-Q3, 5.5-6.5) and in individuals receiving PIs (6.1; Q1-Q3, 5.5-6.7) (p=0.016). Conclusions: HCV/HIV-coinfected individuals under NVP-based ART show lower plasma HCV-RNA levels than those receiving other regimens. © 2010 Mata RC, et al.