Background and objective: Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has been considered to be ineffective in controlling hepatitis C viremia in the first year of treatment. The present study evaluates the effect of prolonged HAART upon HCV-VL.
Patients and method: We selected those cases with positive serology for HCV, never been treated with protease inhibitors (PIs) at baseline, which after the introduction of HAART maintained undetectable HIV viral loads (HIV-VL) uninterruptedly for at least three years. Determinations were made of HCV-VL at baseline and after two and three years of HIV-VL suppression. Spearman coefficient and Friedman test were used.
Results: Of these patients, 21 satisfied the inclusion criteria. HCV-VL remained without significant changes and with relatively stable levels throughout the three-year follow-up period. However, two patients showed HCV-VL negative conversion after two years, that persisted after three years.
Conclusions: Patients who respond to HAART maintain stable HCV-VL. Some subjects may exhibit HCV RNA clearance in the first two years of treatment, maintaining this situation after three years.