Clinical Impact of GB Virus C Viremia on Patients with HIV Type 1 Infection in the Era of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy
1Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, and 2Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
Background.
The influence of GB virus C (GBV‐C) viremia on clinical outcomes of patients with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV‐1) infection remains controversial in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).
Methods.A prospective observational study was conducted to describe the epidemiology of GBV‐C viremia and assess its clinical impact on treatment responses to HAART in 385 HIV‐1–infected patients during the period from January 1999 through June 2004.
Results.A total of 59 patients (15.3%) had detectable GBV‐C RNA viremia during a median observation of 3.6 years (range, 1.0–7.0 years); 47 patients (12.2%) had GBV‐C viremia at enrollment, and 12 (3.1%) acquired GBV‐C infection during follow‐up. Thirty‐two (68.1%) of the 47 patients with baseline GBV‐C viremia had persistent GBV‐C viremia. Compared with patients with clearance of GBV‐C viremia (
) and patients without detectable GBV‐C viremia (
), patients with persistent GBV‐C viremia were more likely to be men who have sex with men (81.3% vs. 60.4%; 
), tended to have lower baseline plasma HIV RNA load (HIV RNA load 
5 log10 copies/mL, 31.3% vs. 49.4%; 
), and had a higher proportion of isolated anti–hepatitis B core antibody (37.5% vs. 17.2%; 
). There was no statistically significant difference in terms of virologic, immunologic, and clinical responses to HAART; occurrence of hepatic events; and mortality among the 3 groups.
Conclusions.Persistent GBV‐C viremia is significantly associated with male‐male sex in HIV‐infected patients with advanced immunodeficiency, and persistent GBV‐C viremia does not confer short‐term benefit in patients receiving HAART.
Received 19 July 2006; accepted 12 October 2006; electronically published 17 January 2007.