HIV-coinfection leads to a modest increase in plasma HCV-RNA load in patients with chronic HCV infection

The influence of HIV coinfection on plasma hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA load has not been reliably evaluated. We analyzed plasma HCV RNA load in 396 HCV-monoinfected and 467 HIV/HCV-coinfected patients. Median HCV RNA concentrations (interquartile range) in HCV-monoinfected patients were 5.88 (5.3–6.2) log10 IU/mL versus 5.96 (5.6–6.5) log10 IU/mL in HIV/HCV-coinfected individuals (p = 0.033) as determined with the Cobas Amplicor Test and 6.06 (5.4–5.7) log10 IU/mL versus 6.3 (5.5–6.9) log10 IU/mL (p = 0.026) using the Cobas TaqMan System. The plasma HCV RNA load in patients with HIV infection and undetectable plasmatic HIV RNA was similar to that observed in HCV-monoinfected individuals [6.02 (5.45–6.61) log10 IU/mL versus 6.01 (5.36–6.59) log10 IU/mL, respectively (p = 1.0)]. In conclusion, HIV coinfection tends to be associated with higher plasma HCV RNA load, however, the magnitude of the differences is small and this effect can be counterbalanced with antiviral therapy.

► The influence of HIV coinfection on HCV RNA load has been evaluated.
► A total of 396 HCV-monoinfected and 467 HIV/HCV-coinfected patients were included.
► HIV coinfection leads to a mild increase in plasma HCV RNA burden.
► The magnitudes of the differences are low and can be counterbalanced with antiviral therapy.
► Contribution to lower anti-HCV therapy response rates in coinfection is questionable.