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Mortality in siblings of patients coinfected with HIV and hepatitis C virus

Ann-Brit Eg Hansen1, Jan Gerstoft, Gitte Kronborg

  • 1Department of Infectious Diseases, Odense University Hospital, DK-5000 Odense C, Denmark. ann-brit.eg.hansen@rh.hosp.dk

The Journal of Infectious Diseases
|December 28, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfection in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients is linked to increased familial mortality. This suggests shared familial factors, not just HCV, impact survival in HIV patients.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfection is a significant negative prognostic factor for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals.
  • Previous studies indicate increased mortality in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients, but the role of familial factors remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate whether familial factors contribute to the elevated mortality observed in HIV-infected patients coinfected with HCV.
  • To determine if there is an excess familial risk of death associated with HIV/HCV coinfection.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 3531 Danish HIV-infected patients with HCV testing was analyzed.
  • 336,652 matched population controls were identified from the Danish Civil Registration System.
  • Siblings of HIV-infected patients (categorized by HCV status) and control subjects were compared for survival after age 20.

Main Results:

  • Siblings of HIV/HCV-coinfected patients exhibited substantially higher mortality (MRR 4.23) compared to siblings of controls.
  • Siblings of HIV-monoinfected patients also showed increased mortality (MRR 1.43) versus siblings of controls.
  • A significant familial excess risk of death was observed in relatives of HIV/HCV-coinfected individuals.

Conclusions:

  • HCV infection in HIV-positive individuals serves as a marker for underlying familial factors influencing survival.
  • These familial factors appear to impact the survival of HIV-infected patients independently of the direct pathogenicity of HCV.
  • The findings highlight the importance of considering familial predispositions in the mortality of HIV/HCV-coinfected patients.
Abstract

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