476 LIVER STIFFNESS MEASUREMENT ASSESSED BY FIBROSCAN PREDICTS RESPONSE TO ANTI-VIRAL TREATMENT IN PATIENTS WITH GENOTYPE 2 AND 3 CHRONIC HEPATITIS C

Abstract

Methods: Portal pressure was assessed through measurement of the hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) in 97 HIV/HCV coinfected patients with compensated liver disease. In accordance with the definitions used by Hull and co-workers, CD4+ counts were considered concordant when the absolute CD4+ count matched the corresponding CD4+ percentage determined in HIV infected individuals ( 500/>35%). Higher CD4+ percentages than expected from the absolute CD4+ counts were referred to as high discordance, while lower CD4+ percentages than expected from the absolute CD4+ counts were referred to as low discordance. Results: Patient characteristics: 76% male, mean age: 37.3±9.7 years, combined antiretroviral therapy: 72%, mean absolute CD4+ count: 519±261cells/ml, mean CD4+ cell percentage: 28.6±10.4%, mean HVPG: 4.8±3.8mmHg, cirrhosis: 19%. High and low CD4+ discordance was observed in 18% and 38% of patients, while 44% of patients had concordant CD4+ counts. There was a tendency toward a higher prevalence of high CD4+ discordance in patients with high portal pressure (≤5mmHg: 15% vs. 6–10mmHg: 22% vs. ≥11mmHg: 29%, p = 0.651). In contrast, low CD4+ discordance was observed more frequently in patients with low portal pressure (≤mmHg: 42% vs. 6–10mmHg: 39% vs. ≥11mmHg: 0%, p = 0.109) (Figure 1). Portal pressure was significantly correlated with the absolute CD4+ count/CD4+ percentage ratio (r = −0.201, p = 0.049) (Figure 2).