Liver fibrosis progression in HIV/hepatitis C virus coinfected patients with normal aminotransferases levels.
Rev Soc Bras Med Trop
; 45(4): 444-7, 2012.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-22930041
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Approximately 30% of hepatitis C virus (HCV) monoinfected patients present persistently normal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels. Most of these patients have a slow progression of liver fibrosis. Studies have demonstrated the rate of liver fibrosis progression in hepatitis C virus-human immunodeficiency virus (HCV-HIV) coinfected patients is faster than in patients infected only by HCV. Few studies have evaluated the histological features of chronic hepatitis C in HIV-infected patients with normal ALT levels.METHODS:
HCV-HIV coinfected patients (HCV-RNA and anti-HIV positive) with known time of HCV infection (intravenous drugs users) were selected. Patients with hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive or hepatitis C treatment before liver biopsy were excluded. Patients were considered to have a normal ALT levels if they had at least 3 normal determinations in the previous 6 months prior to liver biopsy. All patients were submitted to liver biopsy and METAVIR scale was used.RESULTS:
Of 50 studied patients 40 (80%) were males. All patients were treated with antiretroviral therapy. The ALT levels were normal in 13 (26%) patients. HCV-HIV co-infected patients with normal ALT levels had presented means of the liver fibrosis stages (0.77±0.44 versus 1.86±1.38; p<0.001) periportal inflammatory activity (0.62±0.77 versus 2.24±1.35; p<0.001) and liver fibrosis progression rate (0.058±0.043 fibrosis unit/year versus 0.118±0.102 fibrosis unit/year) significantly lower as compared to those with elevated ALT.CONCLUSIONS:
HCV-HIV coinfected patients with persistently normal ALTs showed slower progression of liver fibrosis. In these patients the development of liver cirrhosis is improbable.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Temas:
Geral
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Infecções por HIV
/
Progressão da Doença
/
Hepatite C Crônica
/
Alanina Transaminase
/
Coinfecção
/
Cirrose Hepática
Limite:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Rev Soc Bras Med Trop
Ano de publicação:
2012
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Brasil