Effects of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Eradication on Bone Mineral Density in Human Immunodeficiency Virus/HCV-Coinfected Patients

BACKGROUND

Little is known about the effects of eradication of hepatitis C virus (HCV) on bone mineral density (BMD) and biomarkers of bone remodeling in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/HCV-coinfected patients.

METHODS

We prospectively assessed standardized BMD (sBMD) at the lumbar spine and femoral neck, World Health Organization BMD categories at both sites, and plasma concentrations of soluble receptor activator of NF-κβ ligand (sRANKL), and osteoprotegerin (OPG) at baseline (the date of initiation of anti-HCV therapy) and at 96 weeks.

RESULTS

A total of 238 patients were included. The median age was 49.5 years, 76.5% were males, 48.3% had cirrhosis, 98.3% were on antiretroviral therapy, median CD4+ cell count was 527 cells/μL, and 86.6% had HIV-1 RNA <50 copies/mL. The prevalence of osteoporosis at baseline at the lumbar spine (LS) and femoral neck (FN) was 17.6% and 7.2%, respectively. Anti-HCV therapy comprised pegylated interferon (peg-IFN) and ribavirin (RBV) plus 1 direct-acting antiviral in 53.4%, peg-IFN/RBV in 34.5%, and sofosbuvir/RBV in 12.2%. A total of 145 (60.9%) patients achieved sustained virologic response (SVR). No significant effect of SVR was observed on sBMD for the interaction between time and SVR either in the LS (P = .801) or the FN (P = .911). Likewise, no significant effect of SVR was observed in plasma levels of sRANKL (P = .205), OPG (P = .249), or sRANKL/OPG ratio (P = .123) for the interaction between time and SVR. No significant correlation was found between fibrosis by transient elastography, and LS and FN sBMD, at baseline and week 96.

CONCLUSIONS

SVR was not associated with significant changes in BMD nor biomarkers of bone remodeling in HIV/HCV-coinfected persons.

Low risk of liver decompensation among human immunodeficiency virus/hepatitis C virus-coinfected patients with mild fibrosis in the short term

Liver fibrosis is used to make decisions about the timing of therapy against hepatitis C virus (HCV) in routine clinical practice, which should be based on the short-term likelihood of liver decompensations. Thus, we aimed at evaluating the risk of decompensations and death among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/HCV-coinfected individuals according to their baseline fibrosis classified by either liver biopsy or liver stiffness measurement (LSM). Patients coinfected with HIV/HCV, naive or without sustained virological response to HCV therapy, were included in this cohort. Fibrosis was classified by biopsy in 683 patients and by LSM in 1046 individuals. Reference categories were fibrosis stage 0 and LSM <6 kPa. For patients with biopsy, the adjusted subhazard ratio for decompensations and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) by fibrosis stage were as follows: stage 1, 2.3 (0.27-20.3), P = 0.443; stage 2, 2.8 (0.33-24), P = 0.345; stage 3, 4.91 (0.60-41), P = 0.137; stage 4, 9.89 (1.25-79.5), P = 0.030. For patients with LSM, the adjusted subhazard ratio and 95% CI by LSM category were as follows: 6-9.4 kPa, 1.89 (0.18-20.3), P = 0.599; 9.5-14.5 kPa, 6.59 (0.73-59.2), P = 0.092; ≥14.6 kPa, 59.5 (8.3-427), P < 0.0001. Regarding the risk of death, the adjusted hazard ratio and 95% CI for death by fibrosis stage were as follows: stage 1, 1.3 (0.4-4.11), P = 0.677; stage 2, 2.68 (0.86-8.36), P = 0.090; stage 3, 2.58 (0.82-8.15), P = 0.106; stage 4, 4.35 (1.43-13.3), P = 0.010. For patients with LSM, the adjusted hazard ratio and 95% CI for death by LSM were as follows: 6-9.4 kPa, 1.7 (0.63-4.79), P = 0.288; 9.5-14.5 kPa, 3.38 (1.2-9.5), P = 0.021; ≥14.6 kPa, 12.7 (4.9-33.6), P < 0.0001.

CONCLUSION

Patients coinfected with HIV/HCV without advanced fibrosis are at very low risk of decompensations in the short term; deferral of HCV therapy for a few years and monitoring fibrosis progression is a safe option until cheaper, more effective, and more convenient HCV treatment becomes widely available.

Liver tolerance of raltegravir-containing antiretroviral therapy in HIV-infected patients with chronic hepatitis C

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the liver safety of raltegravir-including combinations in HIV/hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infected patients.

METHODS

Grade 3-4 transaminase elevations (TEs) and grade 4 total bilirubin elevations (TBEs) were assessed during 12 months in 108 HIV/HCV co-infected patients starting antiretroviral therapy including raltegravir in a retrospective cohort study. Furthermore, the relationship between baseline fibrosis and hepatotoxic events was determined.

RESULTS

Eight patients (7.4%) developed grade 3 TEs and two (1.9%) patients showed grade 4 TEs. TBE grade 4 was detected in two (1.9%) patients. No patient permanently discontinued raltegravir because of hepatotoxic events. Of the patients with and without significant fibrosis, six (9.4%) and two (11.8%), respectively, showed grade 3-4 TEs (P = 0.769). Grade 3-4 TEs was observed in four (9.8%) patients in whom cirrhosis was ruled out, while none of the patients diagnosed with cirrhosis developed grade 3-4 TEs (P = 0.303). During the follow-up, the median (Q1-Q3) CD4 cell count increased from 257 (145-421) cells/mm(3) to 407 (213-587) cells/mm(3) (P < 0.0001) and the number of patients with an undetectable HIV viral load augmented from 33 (30.6%) to 73 (81.1%) (P = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

Raltegravir-containing regimens are safe in HIV/HCV co-infected patients. The incidence of severe liver toxicity of raltegravir in these individuals is in the range of boosted protease inhibitors in clinical trials. The frequencies of grade 3-4 TEs and grade 4 TBEs were similar in patients receiving raltegravir with or without significant fibrosis or cirrhosis.