Temporal dynamics of a predominant protease inhibitor-resistance mutation in a treatment-naive, hepatitis C virus-infected individual

J Infect Dis. 2009 Mar 1;199(5):737-41. doi: 10.1086/596657.

Abstract

The dramatic antiviral activities of drugs that specifically inhibit hepatitis C virus replication can be tempered by baseline mutations that confer resistance. We describe the kinetics of an R155K mutation in hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS3 protease known to confer resistance to specific protease inhibitors in an individual coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus-1 and HCV. Longitudinal sequences revealed changes in the relative frequency with which this variant was observed independent of HCV replication levels, illustrating that this mutation coexists with wild-type strains in vivo in the absence of drugs. The persistence of drug-resistance mutations argues for baseline resistance genotyping at the time therapy is initiated to accurately predict the efficacy of treatment.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Drug Resistance, Viral / genetics*
  • HIV Infections / complications
  • Hepacivirus / drug effects*
  • Hepacivirus / genetics*
  • Hepatitis C / complications
  • Hepatitis C / drug therapy*
  • Hepatitis C / virology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mutation
  • Phylogeny
  • Protease Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • RNA, Viral
  • Time Factors
  • Virus Replication / genetics

Substances

  • Protease Inhibitors
  • RNA, Viral