Liver injury in patients with hepatitis C virus/human immunodeficiency virus coinfection in Dehong Prefecture, Yunnan Province

Abstract

Objective To evaluate liver injury in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV)/human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) coinfection in Dehong Prefecture, Yunnan Province. Methods A total of 4 784 HIV-infected patients were enrolled in this study. Baseline aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and AST-to-platelet ratio index (APRI) before HIV treatment were collected to analyze the relationship between HCV infection and liver injury. Data were analyzed by χ2 test and nonparametric rank sum test when appropriate. Risk factors for liver injury were analyzed by multivariate Logistic regression. Results Totally 4 784 patients were included, of which 30.2% (1 447/4 784) were anti-HCV positive, 41.7% (1 996/4 784) had liver dysfunction and 13.3% (636/4 784) had liver cirrhosis. Prevalence of liver dysfunction (61.1%, 821/1 343) and cirrhosis (24.1%, 323/1 343) were significantly higher among anti-HCV-positive patients than anti-HCV-negative patients (31.5%, 974/3 092, χ2=341.223, P<0.01; 7.5%, 231/3 092, χ2=235.457, P<0.01, respectively). Multivariate Logistic regression showed that anti-HCV-positive patients suffered significantly higher risk of liver dysfunction (OR=1.99, 95% CI: 1.66-2.37) and liver cirrhosis (OR=2.41, 95%CI: 1.90-3.04). Conclusion Patients with HCV/HIV in Dehong Prefecture coinfection had a higher risk for liver injury. Key words: HIV/HCV co-infection; Liver injury; Dehong Prefecture