Evaluation of portal hypertension and prognosis of patients with HIV/HCV co-infection through comtaminated blood product

Abstract

Background: As survival of HIV-infected persons has improved due to widespread use of antiretroviral therapy, mortality rate due to HCV-related liver disease has increased in HIV/HCV co-infected patients. Aim: To investigate the real status of portal hypertension and their prognosis in HIV/HCV co-infected patients. Patients and Methods: The data of 146 patients of HIV/HCV coinfection through blood product were extracted form 4 major HIV centers in Japan. In addition to liver function tests, palalet counts (PLT) were evaluated as a marker of portal hypertension. Results: In spite of maintained liver function tests such as albumin and bilirubin, platelet count was lowered less than 150,000/ul in 17 apatients. The prognosis was those lowered PLT patients were worse than that of patients with normal PLT. When compared with HCV monoinfected patients with PLT less than 150,000 ul, the prognosis of HIV/HCV co-infected patients were shorter. Conclusion: This fact must be taken into account to consider appropriate treatment including liver transplantation in HIV/HCV co-infected patients.