evaluating liver fibrosis by transient elastometry in patients with hiv-hcv coinfection and monoinfection

conclusions hcv coinfection, older age and ast were associated with lf in patients with hiv infection. objectives the aim of this cross-sectional study was to identify factors associated with liver fibrosis (lf) in patients with hiv monoinfection and hiv-hcv coinfection. patients and methods we analyzed lf by transient elastometry ([te], fibroscan) in three groups of patients (hiv, hiv-hcv and hcv) followed at the infectious diseases department of university of ancona, italy, between october 2009 and november 2012. results in total, 354 adults including 98 hiv, 70 hiv-hcv and 186 hcv patients were studied. hiv-hcv patients had a longer duration of hiv (p < 0.006) and hcv (p < 0.001) infections. additionally, they were receiving cart therapy for a longer period (p < 0.001); they had higher prevalence of lipodystrophy (p < 0.001) and higher hcv load (p = 0.004). lf was significantly more pronounced in hcv and hiv-hcv compared to hiv patients (p < 0.001). a total of 13.3%, 39.2% and 51.4% of hiv, hcv and hiv-hcv, respectively, showed a lf ≥ f2. additionally, a severe lf (f = 4) was significantly more frequent among hiv-hcv compared to other groups. a longer exposure to didanosine, stavudine, lopinavir/ritonavir and fosamprenavir resulted in increased lf by univariate analysis (p ranging from < 0.001 to 0.007). by logistic regression analysis, the only variables significantly associated with increased lf were hcv coinfection, older age, and high ast values (p ranging from < 0.001 to 0.036). background due to the high efficacy of combination antiretroviral therapy (cart), the number of patients living with hiv is increasing. chronic hcv infection has become a leading cause of non-aids related morbidity and mortality in patients with hiv infection.