Luz Martín-Carbonero

Incidence and Predictors of Severe Liver Fibrosis in Human Immunodeficiency Virus—Infected Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C: A European Collaborative Study

A study was performed in 10 European health care centers in which 914 patients coinfected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) who had elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels underwent liver biopsy during the period of 1992 through 2002. Overall, the METAVIR liver fibrosis stage was F0 in 10% of patients, F1 in 33%, F2 in 22%, F3 in 22%, and F4 in 13%. Predictors of severe liver fibrosis (METAVIR stage, F3 or F4) in multivariate analysis were age of >35 years (odds ratio [OR], 2.95; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.08-4.18), alcohol consumption of >50 g/day (OR, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.1-2.35), and CD4+ T cell count of <500 cells/mm3 (OR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.03-1.98). Forty-six percent of patients aged >40 years had severe liver fibrosis, compared with 15% of subjects aged <30 years. The use of antiretroviral therapy was not associated with the severity of liver fibrosis. In summary, severe liver fibrosis is frequently found in HCV-HIV-coinfected patients with elevated serum ALT levels, and its severity increases significantly with age. The rate of complications due to end-stage liver disease will inevitably increase in this population, for whom anti-HCV therapy should be considered a priority.

Kidney tubular abnormalities in the absence of impaired glomerular function in HIV patients treated with tenofovir.

Background:Tenofovir (TDF) is the most widely prescribed antiretroviral drug. Kidney abnormalities are the main concern using the drug. As glomerular function is infrequently affected in patients treated with TDF, herein, we report the results of an extensive examination of tubular function. Methods:Cross-sectional study of plasma and 24 h urine markers of kidney tubulopathy (glucosuria, hyperaminoaciduria, hyperphosphaturia, hyperuricosuria and β2-microglobulinuria) could be allocated in three groups: patients under a TDF-containing HAART; patients on HAART never exposed to TDF; and antiretroviral-naive individuals. Significant tubular damage was defined when at least two of these parameters were repeatedly present, being at least one part of the Fanconi syndrome criteria (glucosuria, hyperaminoaciduria and hyperphosphaturia). Glomerular function was assessed using creatinine clearance. Results:A total of 284 consecutive HIV patients were examined, 154 on TDF, 49 on other HAART regimens and 81 drug-naive. No significant differences in creatinine clearance were observed when comparing distinct groups. The proportion of patients with tubular damage in groups 1, 2 and 3 were 22, 6 and 12%, respectively. In a multivariate analysis [odds ratio (OR) {95% confidence interval (CI)} P], the only independent predictors of tubular dysfunction were TDF use (21.6, 4.1–113, <0.001) and older age (1.1 per year, 1.0–1.1, 0.01). Conclusion:Exposure to TDF is associated with an increased risk over time of kidney tubular abnormalities in the absence of significant impaired glomerular function. Although long-term consequences of this tubulopathy are unknown, close monitoring of accelerated bone mineral loss and renal insufficiency are warranted. Periodic screening of tubular function parameters should be recommended to patients receiving TDF.

Risk factors for severe hepatic injury after introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy.

Objectives: Treatment of HIV infection with highly antiretroviral therapy (HAART) may be limited by liver toxicity. Its incidence and risk factors are not well known. Patients and Methods: Retrospective chart review. Naive patients beginning HAART between January 1997 and January 2000. Severe transaminase elevation was defined as fivefold or higher rise over upper normal limits, or as ≥3.5‐fold rise above abnormal baseline values. Results: Of 222 study subjects, 38%, 5%, and 2% were coinfected with hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis B virus, and hepatitis D virus, respectively. Besides two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), 96 patients received protease inhibitors (PIs), 90 received nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs), and 35 received a PI + NNRTI combination. Severe hepatic injury developed in 21 (9%): 10% PI, 9%, and 9% PI + NNRTI. Both univariate and multivariate analyses identified alcohol abuse, HCV coinfection, and older age as independent risk factors. Predictor variables in the final multivariate model were: alcohol abuse (risk ratio [RR], 5.87; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.49‐23.15; p = .01], positive HCV serology (RR, 3.99; 95% CI, 1.32‐12.10; p = .01], and older age (RR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.04‐1.18; p = 0.001). Conclusions: Nearly 10% of study subjects who start HAART experience severe transaminase elevation, irrespective of the treatment. Avoidance of alcohol abuse, especially in study subjects coinfected with HCV, will reduce the risk of hepatic injury after HAART. When possible, prior treatment for chronic HCV infection should be considered.

Increasing impact of chronic viral hepatitis on hospital admissions and mortality among HIV-infected patients.

To assess the impact of chronic viral liver disease (CVLD) on hospital admissions and death in HIV-infected patients since the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy, all hospital charts, from January 1996 to December 2000, in a large HIV/AIDS reference center in Madrid were reviewed. Discharge diagnosis, complications during the inpatient period, and number and causes of death were recorded. A total of 1334 hospital admissions involving 875 HIV-infected individuals was recorded. Up to 82% of them were either active or former intravenous drug users. Overall, 158 (11.8%) were admitted because of complications of CVLD, or developed complications of CVLD during their admission for another reason. The absolute number and proportion of admissions caused by CVLD increased over time, from 9.4% (31 of 330) in 1996 to 16% (46 of 287) in 2000 (p < 0.05). Likewise, the total number and proportion of deaths due to CVLD increased from 9.3% (5 of 54) in 1996 to 45% (9 of 20) in 2000 (p < 0.05). Chronic hepatitis C was the only etiology in nearly three-quarters of patients who were admitted or died of CVLD. In conclusion, the proportion of hospital admissions caused by liver failure in HIV-infected patients has increased in the last 5 years, accounting for 16% of cases in 2000. End-stage liver disease currently represents 45% of causes of in-hospital death among HIV-infected individuals. Therefore, strategies to prevent infection by hepatitis viruses (hepatitis B vaccine) and specific treatment (interferon plus ribavirin for hepatitis C virus) should be encouraged among HIV-infected persons.

Severe liver disease associated with prolonged exposure to antiretroviral drugs

Background: Liver damage is frequently seen in HIV-positive subjects, often resulting from coinfection with hepatitis B and/or C viruses (HCV), alcohol abuse, etc. However, the etiology of liver disease still remains unknown for a small subset of individuals. Methods: Cryptogenic liver disease (CLD) was defined as persistently elevated aminotransferases levels in the absence of hepatitis C and/or B viruses replication and of other common causes of liver disease (alcohol, medications, etc). We identified cases initially meeting this definition by examining all HIV-positive subjects attended during the year 2004 in 2 large HIV clinics in Spain. Their clinical charts were retrospectively reviewed, and their assessment completed when needed to rule out other less frequent causes of liver disease. The stage of liver fibrosis was assessed by liver biopsy and/or elastography. To assess which factors could be associated with CLD, HIV-positive controls were chosen and matched by age, gender, and CD4 status. Results: CLD was diagnosed in 17 (0.5%) out of 3200 HIV-positive patients. Their mean age was 43 years, 82.4% were male, and 76% had acquired HIV through homosexual relationships. The mean time from HIV diagnosis was >15 years, and all patients had been exposed to antiretroviral therapy. Nevirapine, stavudine, and didanosine were the drugs more frequently used by this subset of patients. None of them had liver function test abnormalities before initiating antiretroviral therapy. Advanced liver fibrosis (F3-F4 Metavir scores) was recognized in 10 (58.8%) individuals, and 9 (52.9%) had developed symptomatic liver complications, including ascites (8), portal thrombosis (6), variceal bleeding (5), and encephalopathy (2). In the case-control analysis, prolonged didanosine exposure was the only independent predictor of developing CLD in this population. Conclusions: CLD is an uncommon condition in HIV-positive individuals and might be associated with prolonged didanosine exposure. It may evolve causing severe liver complications, with variceal bleeding and portal thrombosis being particularly frequent.

Hepatotoxicity of Antiretroviral Drugs Is Reduced after Successful Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C in HIV-Infected Patients

BACKGROUND The risk of liver toxicity during antiretroviral drug use in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients increases in the presence of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. It is unknown whether sustained HCV clearance after interferon (IFN)-based therapy might reduce this complication. METHODS The incidence of severe elevations in liver enzyme levels during antiretroviral therapy was retrospectively analyzed in a group of HIV/HCV-coinfected patients after completion of a full course of IFN-based therapy. Hepatic events were recorded according to the achievement of a sustained virological response (SVR), and the presence of advanced liver fibrosis was assessed by transient elastometry. RESULTS A total of 132 HIV/HCV-coinfected patients were analyzed (66% men; mean age, 38 years). Overall, 33% achieved an SVR and 40% had advanced liver fibrosis after IFN therapy. A total of 49 episodes of liver toxicity occurred during a mean of 35 months of follow-up (9.7% per year) after IFN therapy. The yearly incidence of hepatic events was greater in patients who did not achieve an SVR than in those who did (12.9% vs. 3.1%; P<.001) and in patients with advanced liver fibrosis than in those without it (14.4% vs. 7.6%; P=.003). Drugs involved in hepatic events were dydeoxynucleoside analogues (namely, didanosine and stavudine; 40%) nevirapine (30%), efavirenz (11%), and protease inhibitors (PIs; 8%). In logistic regression analysis, lack of an SVR (odds ratio [OR], 6.13 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.83-37.45]; P=.003) and the use of dydeoxynucleosides (OR, 3.59 [95% CI, 1.23-10.42]; P=.02) were independent predictors of hepatotoxicity after IFN therapy. Conversely, regimens containing PIs (OR, 0.07 [95% CI, 0.02-0.30]; P<.01) or efavirenz (OR, 0.13 [95% CI, 0.04-0.44]; P=.001) were associated with a diminished risk of hepatic events. CONCLUSION Sustained HCV clearance after IFN-based therapy reduces the risk of liver toxicity during antiretroviral therapy, which should further encourage the treatment of chronic hepatitis C in HIV-coinfected patients. In this population, prescription of PIs or efavirenz decreases and use of dydeoxynucleoside analogues increases the risk of hepatotoxicity.

Genetic factors influencing atazanavir plasma concentrations and the risk of severe hyperbilirubinemia.

Background:Hyperbilirubinemia is frequently seen in patients treated with atazanavir (ATV). Polymorphisms at the uridin-glucoronosyl-transferase 1A1 (UGT1A1) and multidrug resistance 1 (MDR1) genes may influence, respectively, bilirubin and ATV plasma concentrations. Patients and methods:HIV-infected individuals receiving ATV 300 mg daily plus ritonavir 100 mg daily at one clinic were examined. ATV plasma concentrations were measured at steady state. MDR1-3435C>T and UGT1A1 polymorphisms were examined in DNA extracted from blood mononuclear cells. Results:A total of 118 patients (all Caucasian) were analysed. The median ATV plasma concentration was 465 ng/ml [interquartile range (IQR), 233–958]. MDR1-3435 genotypes were as follows: CC (32%), CT (47%) and TT (21%). CC patients showed higher ATV minimum concentration than those with CT/TT genotypes: 939 ng/ml (IQR, 492–1266) versus 376 ng/ml (IQR, 221–722) (P = 0.001). In multivariate analyses, having at least one T allele at MDR1-3435 was independently associated with lower ATV plasma concentrations (β: –427 [95% confidence interval (CI), −633 to −223]; P < 0.001). The proportion of patients with grade 3-4 hyperbilirubinemia varied with distinct UGT1A1 genotypes: 80% for 7/7, 29% for 6/7 and 18% for 6/6 (P = 0.012). In the multivariate analysis, having at least one 7 allele at UGT1A1 was independently associated with severe hyperbilirubinemia (odds ratio, 2.96; 95% CI, 1.29–6.78; P = 0.01). Conclusions:Polymorphisms at MDR1-3435 significantly influence ATV plasma concentrations, as does being Caucasian patients with CT/TT genotypes, having lower ATV levels, even using ritonavir boosting. On the other hand, although ATV plasma concentrations directly correlate with bilirubin levels, the risk of severe hyperbilirubinemia is further increased in the presence of the UGT1A1-TA7 allele.

Liver cirrhosis in HIV-infected patients: prevalence, aetiology and clinical outcome

Summary.  Liver disease is frequently seen in HIV+ patients as a result of coinfection with hepatitis B (HBV) or C (HCV) viruses, alcohol abuse and/or exposure to hepatotoxic drugs. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of liver cirrhosis, its main causes and clinical presentation in HIV+ patients. Observational, cross‐sectional, retrospective study of all HIV+ individuals followed at one reference HIV outpatient clinic in Madrid. Liver fibrosis was measured in all cases using transient elastometry (FibroScan®). All 2168 HIV+ patients on regular follow‐up (76% males, 46% injecting drug users) were successfully examined by FibroScan® between October 2004 and August 2006. Liver cirrhosis was recognized in 181 (overall prevalence, 8.3%), and the main aetiologies were HCV, 82.3%; HBV, 1.6%; dual HBV/HCV, 2.8%; and triple HBV/HCV/ hepatitis delta virus (HDV) infection, 6.6%. The prevalence of cirrhosis differed among patients with distinct chronic viral hepatitis: HCV, 19.2%; HBV, 6.1%; HBV/HCV, 41.7%; and HBV/HCV/HDV, 66.7%. In 12 patients with cirrhosis (6.7%), no definite aetiology was recognized. Overall, cirrhotics had lower mean CD4 counts than noncirrhotics (408 vs 528 cells/μL respectively; P = 0.02), despite similar proportion of subjects with undetectable viraemia on highly active antiretroviral therapy. Clinical manifestations of liver cirrhosis were: splenomegaly, 61.5%; oesophageal varices, 59.8%; ascites, 22.6%; encephalopathy, 12.1%; and variceal bleeding, 6.1%. Liver cirrhosis and hepatic decompensation events are relatively frequent in HIV+ individuals. Chronic HCV and alcohol abuse, but not chronic HBV, play a major role. Transient elastometry may allow the identification of a significant number of HIV+ individuals with asymptomatic liver cirrhosis.

Consensus conference on chronic viral hepatitis and HIV infection: updated Spanish recommendations

Summary.  Chronic hepatitis B and C represent a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)‐infected patients worldwide. New treatment options against both hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) viruses have prompted us to update previous recommendations for the management of coinfected individuals. Fifteen topics (nine related to HCV, five to HBV and one to both viruses) were selected for this purpose. A panel of Spanish experts in the field was invited to review these areas and propose specific recommendations, which were scored according to the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) grading system. These guidelines represent a comprehensive and updated overview on the management of hepatitis B and C in HIV‐infected patients.

Paradoxical CD4+ T-cell decline in HIV-infected patients with complete virus suppression taking tenofovir and didanosine.

Background: Tenofovir (TDF) and didanosine (ddI) are both adenosine analogues with convenient posology, strong potency and a relatively high genetic barrier for resistance. The popularity of this combination, however, has been questioned due to concerns about pharmacokinetic interactions and increased risk of pancreatitis and hyperglycemia. Less information is available about other possible side effects. Patients and methods: HIV-infected individuals who initiated a protease inhibitor-sparing regimen between September 2002 and June 2003 at five hospitals, and had at least one subsequent visit within the next 12 months, always with complete virus suppression, were retrospectively assessed. Only drug-naive individuals and patients who simplified a prior successful antiretroviral regimen were analysed. Results: Outcomes were analysed in 570 individuals according to treatment modality (98 drug-naive versus 472 simplified); the nucleoside analogue (NA) backbone (298 with TDF + ddI, 88 with ddI, 44 with TDF, and 140 with neither ddI nor TDF); and the third agent used (378 with non-nucleoside analogues versus 192 with NA). Significant CD4+ T-cell declines were seen in patients taking ddI + TDF with respect to all other NA combinations, including ddI or TDF separately. Patients exposed to high ddI doses or taking a third NA showed more pronounced CD4 declines. Plasma levels of ddI correlated with the extent of CD4+ T-cell loss. Conclusion: Patients receiving ddI + TDF-based combinations show CD4+ T-cell declines despite achieving complete virus suppression. This effect generally progresses with time. An imbalance in adenosine metabolites within CD4+ T lymphocytes may explain this phenomenon, which resembles the genetic purine nucleoside phosphorylase deficiency syndrome.