[Characteristics of chronic hepatitis C in patients infected by human immunodeficiency virus]

To know the characteristics of chronic hepatitis C in HIV-infected patients and whether there are differences compared with HIV-negative patients, in order to obtain orientative helpful data for the diagnostic-therapeutic decision making, a usually difficult issue in these patients.

Sixty patients with criteria of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) criteria were studied. Thirty-three of these patients were coinfected with HIV. The possible associations between the degree of histologic damage and several variables wee studied: age, estimated time of evolution of HCV infection, transaminases, gammaglobulins, GGT, and alcohol consumption. On the other hand, the possible differences regarding the histologic hepatic aggression were assessed. An attempt was made to know whether HIV could negatively influence the evolution of chronic hepatitis C.

A direct relationship was observed between hepatic damage, HAI and levels of GOT, GPT, GGT (p < 0.005), and gammaglobulins (p < 0.01). The degree of hepatic fibrosis was directly correlated with the GGT level (mild fibrosis: 47 +/- 34 U/l; severe fibrosis: 86 +/- 60 U/l) (p < 0.05) and the estimated evolution time of infection (p < 0.05). Alcohol consumption was associated with the fibrosis degree (p < 0.01). The degree of histologic damage was similar in the HIV-positive group (HAI: 8.3 +/- 3.6) and HIV-negative patients (HAI: 7.2 +/- 2.8), although the degree of lobular involvement was higher in HIV-positive patients (p < 0.05).

Patients with chronic hepatitis C and infected with HIV did not have a higher degree of hepatic damage than HIV-negative patients. GOT, GPT, and gamma globulin levels, as well as a longer evolution time of HCV infection were associated with a higher degree of hepatic histologic activity. Alcohol consumption seemed to be associated with a poorer course of the liver disease in these patients.