Growing importance of liver disease in HIV-infected persons

HIV-HBV and HIV-HCV Coinfection and Liver Cancer Development

Liver diseases that are caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV), including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), have become increasingly important in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) as their life expectancy is getting longer with successful anti-HIV therapy. Due to their shared transmission routes, dual infection by HIV and HBV or HIV and HCV, and triple infection by all three viruses are fairly common and affect millions of people worldwide. Whereas the immunodeficiency caused by HIV enhances the likelihood of HBV and HCV persistence, hepatotoxicity associated with anti-HIV therapy can worsen the liver diseases associated with HBV or HCV persistence. Evidence suggests HIV infection increases the risk of HBV- or HCV-associated HCC risk although the precise mechanisms of enhanced hepatocarcinogenesis remain to be fully elucidated. Recent success in curing HCV infection, and the availability of therapeutic options effective in long-term suppression of both HIV and HBV replication, bring hope, fortunately, to those who are coinfected but also highlight the need for judicious selection of antiviral therapies.

Response of hepatitis B virus to antiretroviral treatment containing lamivudine in HBsAg-positive and HBsAg-negative HIV-positive South African adults

Both hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection are highly endemic in sub-Saharan Africa. This study examined serological and clinical follow-up data from 39 HBV DNA-positive, HIV-positive black South African adults, who returned for follow-up at 3, 6, 12, and 18 months post-initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Of the 39 participants, 10 experienced full suppression of HBV and 29 experienced no suppression, with 10 of these showing a virological breakthrough. All 10 patients who fully suppressed were HBsAg-negative, with 16 of the 29 who did not suppress being HBsAg-positive and 13 HBsAg-negative (P < 0.05). Participants fully suppressing the virus had significantly lower aminotransferase levels and were all HBsAg-negative compared to those who did not suppress (P < 0.05). HBV viral loads between HBsAg-positive and HBsAg-negative samples were similar at baseline and at the final time-point. In these South African patients with HBV/HIV coinfection, HBsAg-negative status at baseline was a predictor of the outcome of HBV suppression in response to ART containing lamivudine.

Efficacy and Safety of Tenofovir and Lamivudine in Combination with Efavirenz in Patients Co-infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Hepatitis B Virus in China

Background:

The prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is high among individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in China. Both HIV and HBV can be treated with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) and lamivudine (3TC), so we evaluated the safety and efficacy of combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) that included TDF, 3TC, and efavirenz (EFV) among ART-naive individuals who were co-infected with HIV and HBV.

Methods:

One hundred HIV/HBV co-infected ARV-naive individuals were started on the regimen of TDF, 3TC, and EFV, and the levels of plasma HBV DNA, HIV RNA, and biochemical evaluation related to the function of liver and kidney were analyzed.

Results:

Concerning efficacy, this study found that by week 48, the vast majority co-infected participants receiving this ART regimen had undetectable HBV DNA levels (71%) and/or HIV RNA levels (90%). Concerning safety, this study found that the median estimated glomerular filtration rate of participants decreased from baseline (109 ml·min⁻¹·1.73 m⁻²) to week 12 (104 ml·min⁻¹·1.73 m⁻²) but was almost back to baseline at week 48 (111 ml·min⁻¹·1.73 m⁻²).

Conclusion:

This combination ART regimen is safe and effective for patients with HIV/HBV co-infection.

Trial Registration:

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01751555; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01751555.

Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of hepatitis B virus in HIV-infected patients in Guangdong, China

This study investigated the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in HIV-infected adults at the time of antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation in Guangdong province, China. A total of 2793 HIV-infected adults were enrolled between January 2004 and September 2011. Demographic data and laboratory parameters were collected, HBV-DNA levels were measured, and HBV genotypes were identified before ART initiation. The prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in HIV-infected patients was 13.2%. A total of 266 HIV/HBV co-infected patients and 1469 HIV mono-infected patients were recruited. The median alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels of HIV/HBV co-infected patients were higher than HIV mono-infected patients (32 U/L vs. 22 U/L, p < 0.001 and 35 U/L vs. 24 U/L, p < 0.001, respectively), whereas the median CD4 cell count of HIV/HBV co-infected patients was lower than HIV mono-infected patients (59 cells/mm(3) vs. 141 cells/mm(3), p < 0.001). The level of CD4 cell count was lower in hepatitis B e-antigen (HBeAg)-positive co-infected patients than HBeAg-negative patients (36 cells/mm(3) vs. 69 cells/mm(3), p = 0.014). A similar result was found in high level of HBV-DNA and low level of HBV-DNA groups (33 cells/mm(3) vs. 89 cells/mm(3), p < 0.001). HBV genotypes were classified as genotypes B and C. Patients infected with genotypes B and C differed significantly in terms of proportion of those who were HBeAg-positive (40.5% vs. 62.2%, p = 0.014). This study indicates a high prevalence of HBsAg in HIV-infected adults in Guangdong. The level of CD4 cell count in HIV/HBV co-infected patients was much lower than HIV mono-infected patients, especially in patients who were HBeAg-positive and had a high level of HBV-DNA. The predominant HBV genotype in HIV/HBV co-infected patients is genotype B.

Hepatitis B virus infection in a cohort of HIV infected blood donors and AIDS patients in Sichuan, China

Background

Co-infections of HBV and HIV are frequent due to similar routes of transmission. In that transmission through blood is an important route for both HBV and HIV, evaluation of the prevalence of HBV in HIV infected blood donors may be important for transfusion safety. In addition, because the epidemiological characteristics of HBV in HIV infected patients and blood donors may differ from each other, understanding of it could be significant for therapy and prevention of HBV in HIV infected adults. However, data reported on these in Chinese people remains limited.

Methods

614 HIV confirmed positive samples were collected from blood donors and patients and were screened for HBsAg and HBV DNA. The samples screened reactive for HBsAg or positive for HBV DNA were tested for the other serological markers of HBV including anti-HBs, HBeAg, anti-HBe and anti-HBc. For the samples tested positive for HBV DNA, the S region of HBV was amplified by nested PCR and the HBV genotypes were determined.

Results

HBV coinfections were found in 12.9% (79/614) HIV infected individuals including 42/417(10.1%) blood donors and 37/197 (18.8%) AIDS patients. In the HBsAg positive individuals, 80.0% were HBeAg negative in which 10.0% were HBV DNA negative and 38.3% with HBV DNA lower than 2000 IU/ml. The average HBV DNA levels were lower in donors than in patients. In the HBV DNA positive populations, HBV genotypes B, A and C accounted for 48.1%, 22.8% and 8.86% respectively. Mutations related to the failure of HBsAg detection were found in 2 of the 4 HBsAg-/HBV DNA + subjects.

Conclusions

High prevalence of HBV in HIV infected individuals was found in this study. Hence, we recommend routine testing of HBV for patients newly diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in China. Some HIV-HBV co-infected patients remain undiagnosed if only conventional serological markers for HBV are used and it’s important to detect HBV DNA for HIV infected patients. HBV DNA levels were relatively low in HBeAg negative patients, thus this serologic marker may be useful in prioritizing patients on their need for HBV treatment in settings in which HBV DNA is not available.

Hepatitis B virus infection in human immunodeficiency virus infected southern African adults: occult or overt--that is the question

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) share transmission routes and are endemic in sub-Saharan Africa. The objective of the present study was to use the Taormina definition of occult HBV infection, together with stringent amplification conditions, to determine the prevalence and characteristics of HBV infection in antiretroviral treatment (ART)-naïve HIV(+ve) adults in a rural cohort in South Africa. The presence of HBV serological markers was determined by enzyme linked immunoassay (ELISA) tests. HBV DNA-positivity was determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of at least two of three different regions of the HBV genome. HBV viral loads were determined by real-time PCR. Liver fibrosis was determined using the aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index. Of the 298 participants, 231 (77.5%) showed at least one HBV marker, with 53.7% HBV DNA(-ve) (resolved) and 23.8% HBV DNA(+ve) (current) [8.7% HBsAg(+ve): 15.1% HBsAg(-ve)]. Only the total number of sexual partners distinguished HBV DNA(+ve) and HBV DNA(-ve) participants, implicating sexual transmission of HBV and/or HIV. It is plausible that sexual transmission of HBV and/or HIV may result in a new HBV infection, superinfection and re-activation as a consequence of immunesuppression. Three HBsAg(-ve) HBV DNA(+ve) participants had HBV viral loads <200 IU/ml and were therefore true occult HBV infections. The majority of HBsAg(-ve) HBV DNA(+ve) participants did not differ from HBsAg(+ve) HBV DNA(+ve) (overt) participants in terms of HBV viral loads, ALT levels or frequency of liver fibrosis. Close to a quarter of HIV(+ve) participants were HBV DNA(+ve), of which the majority were HBsAg(-ve) and were only detected using nucleic acid testing. Detection of HBsAg(-ve) HBV DNA(+ve) subjects is advisable considering they were clinically indistinguishable from HBsAg(+ve) HBV DNA(+ve) individuals and should not be overlooked, especially if lamivudine is included in the ART.

The impact of the prevention programme of hepatitis C over more than a decade: the French experience

To assess the impact of the French national hepatitis C prevention programme initiated in 1999, we analysed trends in hepatitis C virus (HCV) prevalence, testing and characteristics of HCV-infected patient at first referral from 1994 to 2006. We used four data sources: Two national population-based sero-prevalence surveys carried out in 1994 and 2004; two surveillance networks, one based on public and private laboratories throughout France and the other on hepatology reference centres, which aim to monitor, respectively, trends of anti-HCV screening and of epidemiological-clinical characteristics of HCV patients at first referral. Between 1994 and 2004, the anti-HCV prevalence for adults aged 20-59 years decreased from 1.05 (95% confidence interval 0.75-1.34) to 0.71 (0.52-0.97). During the same period, those anti-HCV positive with detectable HCV RNA decreased from 81 to 57%, whereas, the proportion of anti-HCV positive persons aware of their status evolved from 24 to 56%. Anti-HCV screening activity increased by 45% from 2000 to 2005, but decreased in 2006 (-10%), while HCV positivity among those tested decreased from 4.3 to 2.9%. The proportion of cirrhosis at first referral remains around 10% between 2001 and 2006, with many patients with excessive alcohol consumption (34.7% among males) or viral co-infections (HIV seropositivity for 5.2% patients). Our analysis indicates that the national programme had a positive impact at the population level through improved prevention, screening and management. There is still a need to identify timely those at risk for earlier interventions, to assess co-morbidities better and for a multidisciplinary approach to HCV management.

Frequent hepatitis B virus rebound among HIV-hepatitis B virus-coinfected patients following antiretroviral therapy interruption

BACKGROUND

The impact of antiretroviral therapy (ART) interruption in HIV-hepatitis B virus (HBV)-coinfected patients was examined in the Strategic Management of AntiRetroviral Therapy (SMART) study.

METHODS

Plasma HBV DNA was measured in all hepatitis B surface antigen-positive (HBV-positive) participants at baseline, and at months 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12.

RESULTS

Among HBV-positive participants in the ART interruption (drug conservation) (n = 72) and ART continuation (virological suppression) (n = 62) arms, HBV DNA rebound of more than 1 log from baseline at months 1-4 was seen in 31-33% (P = 0.003) and 3-4% (P = 0.017), respectively. Thirteen HBV-positive participants had HBV DNA rebound of more than 3 log, including 12 in the drug conservation arm, of which eight were on tenofovir-containing regimens. Factors independently associated with a HBV DNA rebound were drug conservation arm (P = 0.0002), nondetectable HBV DNA at baseline (P = 0.007), and black race (P = 0.03). Time to ART reinitiation was shorter (7.5, 15.6, and 17.8 months; P < 0.0001) and proportion reinitiating greater (62.5, 46.5, and 39.7%; P = 0.0002) among HBV-positive participants as compared with hepatitis C virus-positive and non-HBV/hepatitis C virus participants in the drug conservation arm. No hepatic decompensation events occurred among HBV-positive participants in either arm.

CONCLUSION

HBV DNA rebound following ART interruption is common and may be associated with accelerated immune deficiency in HIV-HBV-coinfected patients.

Effects of liver disease on the well-being of persons living with HIV

Clinical evidence suggests that patients with liver disease and HIV have poorer quality of life (QOL). Because little research exists to support this observation, this study examined the relationships between people with HIV and liver disorders and their QOL. Cella's multidimensional (functional, social, emotional, physical) conceptualization of QOL guided this study. The sample included 80 participants with liver disorders and HIV; 48.8% had chronic or permanent hepatitis. Cella's four dimensions significantly correlated with QOL: functional, r = .329, p < .01; social, r = .636, p < .01; emotional, r = -.549, p < .01; and physical, r = -.480, p < .01. Linear regression analysis with QOL as the dependent variable and the four dimensions as predictors resulted in significant associations explaining approximately 50% of the variance (R2 = .532). Confirmatory factor analysis supported Cella's model with the four subdomains loading on one factor (QOL). Understanding the multiple dimensions of QOL may assist in developing interventions for patients with HIV and comorbid liver disorders.

HIV-HBV and HIV-HCV coinfection and liver cancer development

Liver diseases caused by chronic HBV or HCV infection, including cirrhosis and HCC, are emerging as an increasingly important problem faced by millions of HIV-infected patients who are coinfected with HBV or HCV. On one hand, HIV-induced immune suppression enhances the risk of chronic viral hepatitis, increases HBV or HCV load, and may hasten the progression to cirrhosis and liver cancer. On the other hand, significant hepatotoxicity is associated with a number of antiretroviral drugs, further exacerbating liver damage associated with chronic viral hepatitis. The exact risk of HCC in HIV and HBV or HCV coinfected patients remains to be fully assessed. The elucidation of the multiple virus-virus and virus-host interactions that underlie viral hepatocarcinogenesis and potential HIV enhancement awaits the establishment of appropriate in vitro and in vivo model systems. As millions of HIV-infected patients in the developing countries are gaining access to HAART therapy for their HIV infections, endemic HBV and HCV infections and their associated liver diseases will only become more problematic on a global level. To ameliorate the suffering from HBV- and HCV-induced liver cancer in HIV patients, more effective treatment for chronic HBV and HCV infections are needed. The long time frame of viral hepatocarcinogenesis may afford a window of opportunity to develop and improve such treatment.

Steatosis as a cofactor in other liver diseases: hepatitis C virus, alcohol, hemochromatosis, and others

As obesity prevalence rises, there is evidence that fatty liver disease can act synergistically with other chronic liver diseases to aggravate parenchymal injury. This is characterized best in chronic hepatitis C, where steatosis is caused by viral and metabolic effects. There is evidence that steatosis and its metabolic abnormalities also exacerbate other diseases, such as alcoholic liver disease, hemochromatosis, and, possibly, drug-induced liver disease. The pathogenesis seems related to increased susceptibility of steatotic hepatocytes to apoptosis, enhanced oxidative injury, and altered hepatocytic regeneration. Data suggest that active management of obesity may improve liver injury and decrease the progression of fibrosis in patients who have other chronic liver diseases.

[Treatment of viral hepatitis (I). Treatment of chronic hepatitis B]

In the past 25 years remarkable progress has been made in our understanding of the natural history of chronic HBV. The infection is now perceived as having three consecutive phases: immune tolerance, immune clearance, and inactive carrier status, with possible reactivation episodes. Accumulating evidence indicates that antiviral therapy can prevent progression of HBV-related liver disease, particularly among patients with sustained response. Five agents are now approved for therapy of chronic hepatitis B: interferon-alpha (standard and pegylated), lamivudine, adefovir and entecavir. All five drugs are effective in suppressing HBV DNA levels and improving serum alanineaminotransferase levels and hepatic histology, but it is still unclear who should be treated, with which agent (or combination of agents), for how long, and what endpoints measure the success or failure of treatment. Until a drug therapy results in lasting virological remission in most patients after a reasonably short period of treatment, individualized treatment decisions will remain key to maximizing efficacy, and chronic HBV infection will continue to be treated as a liver disease rather than as an infectious disease.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and HIV infection

As persons with HIV live longer, chronic liver disease is increasingly important. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is characterized by excess fat in hepatocytes in patients without significant alcohol use. It can progress from steatosis to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) to cirrhosis. Visceral obesity and insulin resistance are integral to the pathogenesis of NAFLD. Patients with HIV are at greater risk of NAFLD due to antiretroviral therapy and viral hepatitis coinfection. Antiretroviral therapy can lead to patterns of injury that include steatosis and NASH. Coinfection with hepatitis C virus increases the risk of insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis, and co-existent features of NASH have also been reported. Histological-based, longitudinal studies are needed that address the interactions of NAFLD and HIV infection, the effects of antiretroviral therapy and hepatotropic virus coinfection, and inform better management strategies.