Response to raltegravir-based salvage therapy in HIV-infected patients with hepatitis C virus or hepatitis B virus coinfection

OBJECTIVES: To define the impact of coinfection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) or
hepatitis C virus (HCV) on viroimmunological response to raltegravir-based
salvage regimens that also include new HIV inhibitors such as maraviroc,
darunavir and etravirine.
METHODS: We used data from a national observational study of patients starting
raltegravir-based regimens to compare virological suppression and CD4 cell change
from baseline in patients with and without concomitant HBV or HCV infection.
RESULTS: Overall, 275 patients (107 coinfected and 168 non-coinfected) were
evaluated. Coinfected patients were more commonly former intravenous drug users
and had a longer history of HIV infection and higher baseline aminotransferase
levels. Both HIV-RNA and CD4 response were similar in the two groups. Mean time
to first HIV-RNA copy number <50 copies/mL was 4.1 months (95% CI 3.5-4.6) in
non-coinfected patients and 3.9 months (95% CI 3.3-4.5) in coinfected patients
(hazard ratio 1.039, 95% CI 0.761-1.418, P = 0.766, log-rank test). The risk of
developing new grade 3-4 hepatic adverse events was significantly higher in
coinfected patients (hazard ratio 1.779, 95% CI 1.123-2.817, P = 0.009). The two
groups of coinfected and non-coinfected patients had similar rates of
interruption of any baseline drug (hazard ratio 1.075, 95% CI 0.649-1.781, P =
0.776) and of raltegravir (hazard ratio 1.520, 95% CI 0.671-3.447, P = 0.311).
Few AIDS-defining events and deaths occurred.
CONCLUSIONS: Viroimmunological response to regimens based on raltegravir and
other recent anti-HIV inhibitors is not negatively affected by coinfection with
HBV or HCV. Liver toxicity, either pre-existing or new, is more common in
coinfected patients, but with no increased risk of treatment interruption.