TY - JOUR
T1 - Hepatic histology of patients with HIV infection and chronic hepatitis C treated with interferon
AU - Boldorini, Renzo
AU - Viganò, Paolo
AU - Monga, Guido
AU - Nebuloni, Manuela
AU - Cargnel, Antonietta
AU - Gubertini, Guido
AU - Migliaretti, Giuseppe
AU - Costanzi, Giulio
PY - 1997
Y1 - 1997
N2 - Aims - To evaluate the histological changes seen in liver biopsies after interferon (IFN) treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis C and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Method - Twenty four intravenous drug users with chronic hepatitis C were investigated histologically before beginning a 12 month course of IFN treatment and 18 months later. Twelve were HIV positive, without opportunistic or other vital infections (group A), and 12 were HIV negative (group B). Results - According to alanine amino- transferase concentrations, four sustained responders and eight non- responders were found in group A; six sustained responders, five relapsers, and one non-responder were found in group B. HCV RNA became negative in one sustained responder of group A and in the six sustained responders of group B. When histological findings of biopsies performed before therapy and 18 months later were compared, no significant changes in the mean value of Knodell's index and subindices were found in group A, whereas in group B Knodell's index, piecemeal necrosis, and focal hepatocellular necrosis decreased significantly. Conclusions - In chronic hepatitis C, coinfection with HIV showed a tendency towards a lower response to IFN, although this did not reach statistical significance; however, none of the HIV positive patients developed cirrhosis during the follow up and this should be considered in clinical management of such patients.
AB - Aims - To evaluate the histological changes seen in liver biopsies after interferon (IFN) treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis C and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Method - Twenty four intravenous drug users with chronic hepatitis C were investigated histologically before beginning a 12 month course of IFN treatment and 18 months later. Twelve were HIV positive, without opportunistic or other vital infections (group A), and 12 were HIV negative (group B). Results - According to alanine amino- transferase concentrations, four sustained responders and eight non- responders were found in group A; six sustained responders, five relapsers, and one non-responder were found in group B. HCV RNA became negative in one sustained responder of group A and in the six sustained responders of group B. When histological findings of biopsies performed before therapy and 18 months later were compared, no significant changes in the mean value of Knodell's index and subindices were found in group A, whereas in group B Knodell's index, piecemeal necrosis, and focal hepatocellular necrosis decreased significantly. Conclusions - In chronic hepatitis C, coinfection with HIV showed a tendency towards a lower response to IFN, although this did not reach statistical significance; however, none of the HIV positive patients developed cirrhosis during the follow up and this should be considered in clinical management of such patients.
KW - Chronic hepatitis C
KW - Human immunodeficiency virus
KW - Liver biopsy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0030761838&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1136/jcp.50.9.735
DO - 10.1136/jcp.50.9.735
M3 - Article
SN - 0021-9746
VL - 50
SP - 735
EP - 740
JO - Journal of Clinical Pathology
JF - Journal of Clinical Pathology
IS - 9
ER -