IN HIV-INFECTED IMMUNOLOGICAL NON-RESPONDERS, HEPATITIS C VIRUS ERADICATION CONTRIBUTES TO INCOMPLETE NORMALIZATION OF SYSTEMIC INFLAMMATION INDEXES, BUT DOES NOT LEAD TO RAPID CD4⁺ T-CELL COUNT RECOVERY

Abstract

In HIV-positive individuals taking antiretroviral therapy, coinfection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) increases the systemic inflammation, which interferes with the CD4+ T-cells regeneration. This study evaluated the effect of HCV eradication on systemic inflammation and CD4+ T-cell regeneration in patients who gave poor response to antiretroviral therapy, the so-called “immunological non-responders” (INRs). HIV-infected patients who received a course of direct-acting antiviral drugs for treating hepatitis C were examined. The control groups included HIV/HCV-coinfected individuals and relatively healthy volunteers. It has been established for the first time that HCV eradication is not accompanied by a complete suppression of systemic inflammation, but improves the T-cell pool composition: in INRs, the blood CD4+/CD8+ T-lymphocyte ratio increases and approaches those of healthy individuals. Apparently, in INRs treated for hepatitis C, the immune system recovery takes time and may be incomplete.