IMPACT OF TREATMENT WITH HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS (HIV) PROTEASE INHIBITORS ON HEPATITIS-C VIREMIA IN PATIENTS COINFECTED WITH HIV

The impact of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) protease inhibitors o n hepatitis C (HCV) viremia was assessed in 19 patients infected with both HIV and HCV. HIV and HCV RNA levels were measured before and duri ng treatment with protease inhibitors. Before treatment, mean levels o f HCV RNA were 5.3 log for HCV RNA and 5.0 log for HIV RNA. CD4 lympho cyte counts were 63/mm(3). After 6 weeks of treatment, a mean reductio n of 2.1 log(10) in HIV RNA (P < .001) and a mean (+/-SE) increase of 73 (+/-21) CD4 and 296 (+/-70) CD8 cells were observed (P < .05). In c ontrast, both HCV viremia (+/-0.4 log +/- 0.1) and alanine aminotransf erase increased (P < .04). HCV RNA levels returned to baseline after 1 7 and 32 weeks of treatment. Thus, potent anti-HIV regimens with prote ase inhibitors may temporarily worsen HCV status despite improvement o f HIV parameters.