Carriage of GB virus C/hepatitis G virus RNA is associated with a slower immunologic, virologic, and clinical progression of human immunodeficiency virus disease in coinfected persons

J Infect Dis. 1999 Apr;179(4):783-9. doi: 10.1086/314671.

Abstract

The prevalence of GB virus C (GBV-C) infection is high in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected persons. However, the long-term consequences of coinfection are unknown. HIV-positive persons with a well-defined duration of infection were screened on the basis of their GBV-C/hepatitis G virus (HGV) RNA status and studied. GBV-C/HGV viremia was observed in 23, who carried the virus over a mean of 7.7 years. All parameters (survival, CDC stage B/C, HIV RNA load, CD4 T cell count) showed significant differences in terms of the cumulative progression rate between persons positive and negative for GBV-C/HGV RNA. When GBV-C/HGV RNA-positive and -unexposed subjects were matched by age, sex, baseline HIV RNA load, and baseline CD4 T cell count, HIV disease progression appeared worse in GBV-C/HGV RNA-negative subjects. The carriage of GBV-C/HGV RNA is associated with a slower progression of HIV disease in coinfected persons.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • CD4 Lymphocyte Count
  • Carrier State / virology*
  • Female
  • Flaviviridae / isolation & purification*
  • HIV Infections / immunology
  • HIV Infections / virology*
  • Hepatitis, Viral, Human / virology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • RNA, Viral
  • Virus Replication

Substances

  • RNA, Viral