Research Papers

@article{Rollet-Kurhajec2015,
title = {Hepatic Fibrosis Progression in HIV-Hepatitis C Virus Co-Infection--The Effect of Sex on Risk of Significant Fibrosis Measured by Aspartate-to-Platelet Ratio Index},
author = {Kathleen C. Rollet-Kurhajec and Erica E. M. Moodie and Sharon Walmsley and Curtis Cooper and Neora Pick and Marina B. Klein},
editor = {Jason Blackard},
url = {https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26090666},
doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0129868},
year = {2015},
date = {2015-06-05},
journal = {PLoS One},
abstract = {BACKGROUND:
In Hepatitis C virus (HCV) mono-infection, male sex is associated with faster liver fibrosis progression but the effects of sex have not been well studied in HIV-HCV co-infected patients. We examined the influence of sex on progression to significant liver fibrosis in HIV-HCV co-infected adults receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) using the aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI) as a surrogate biomarker of liver fibrosis.
METHODS:
We evaluated 308 HIV infected, HCV RNA positive participants of a Canadian multicentre prospective cohort receiving antiretrovirals and without significant liver fibrosis or end-stage liver disease at baseline. We used multivariate discrete-time proportional hazards models to assess the effect of sex on time to significant fibrosis (APRI≥1.5) adjusting for baseline age, alcohol use, cigarette smoking, HCV duration, and APRI and time-updated CD4 count and HIV RNA.
RESULTS:
Overall, 55 (18%) participants developed an APRI ≥ 1.5 over 544 person-years of at-risk follow-up time; 18 (21%) women (incidence rate (IR)=14.0/100 PY; 7.5-20.4) and 37 (17%) men (IR=8.9/100 PY; 6.0-11.8). Women had more favourable profiles with respect to traditional risk factors for liver disease progression (younger, shorter duration of HCV infection and less alcohol use). Despite this, female sex was associated with a greater than two-fold increased risk of fibrosis progression (adjusted hazard rate (HR) =2.23; 1.22-4.08).
CONCLUSIONS:
HIV-HCV co-infected women receiving antiretroviral therapy were at significantly greater risk of progressing to liver fibrosis as measured by APRI compared with men. Enhanced efforts to engage and treat co-infected women for HCV are needed.},
keywords = {Fibrosis, Hepatic Fibrosis, HIV-HCV co-infection, Sex},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}

@article{Hull2012,
title = {Insulin resistance is associated with progression to Hepatic fibrosis in a Cohort of HIV/HCV co-infected patients},
author = {Mark Hull and Kathleen C. Rollet-Kurhajec and Erica E. M. Moodie and Sharon Walmsley and Joseph Cox and Martin Potter and Curtis Cooper and Neora Pick and Sahar Saeed and Marina B. Klein},
url = {https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22739388},
doi = {10.1097/QAD.0b013e32835612ce},
year = {2012},
date = {2012-09-10},
journal = {AIDS},
volume = {26},
number = {14},
pages = {1789-1794},
abstract = {OBJECTIVE:
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with higher insulin levels and insulin resistance. We evaluated factors associated with insulin resistance in a cohort of HIV/HCV-coinfected patients and determined the effect of insulin resistance on the development of hepatic fibrosis.
METHODS:
Data were analysed from 158 nondiabetic participants in a prospective Canadian cohort of HIV/HCV-coinfected patients. Patients were defined as having insulin resistance using the homeostasis model for assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index. Factors associated with a high index (HOMA-IR ≥ 2) were identified using multivariate logistic regression. Incidence rates of liver fibrosis [aspartate aminotransferase- to-platelet ratio index (APRI) ≥ 1.5] were calculated, and multivariate time-dependent Cox regression models used to assess the effect of baseline insulin resistance on the risk of developing an APRI score of at least 1.5 during follow-up.
RESULTS:
Overall, 56% had baseline HOMA-IR of at least 2. In the adjusted multivariate logistic analysis, only baseline BMI of more than 25 kg/m2 remained associated with insulin resistance [adjusted odds ratio 3.66, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.70-7.92]. Rates of progression to significant hepatic fibrosis (APRI ≥ 1.5) were higher in those with HOMA-IR of at least 2 (16.32 per 100 person-years, 95% CI 6.68-25.97) compared with those with HOMA-IR less than 2 (7.95 per 100 person-years, 95% CI 0.16-15.75). Baseline HOMA-IR of at least 2 was associated with the development of significant fibrosis (adjusted hazard ratio 7.71, 95% CI 2.55-23.36).},
keywords = {Hepatic Fibrosis, HIV-HCV co-infection, Insulin resistance},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}

@article{Al-Mohri2007,
title = {Evaluating liver fibrosis progression and the impact of antiretroviral therapy in HIV and Hepatitis C coinfection using a noninvasive marker},
author = {Huda Al-Mohri and Tanya Murphy and Ying Lu and Richard G. Lalonde and Marina B. Klein},
url = {https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17211282},
doi = {10.1097/QAI.0b013e318030ff8e},
year = {2007},
date = {2007-04-01},
journal = {JAIDS},
volume = {44},
number = {4},
pages = {463-469},
abstract = {The effects of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on progression of hepatic fibrosis in hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfection with HIV are not well understood and are difficult to measure because of the need for repeated liver biopsy. We evaluated the evolution of a noninvasive measure of liver fibrosis, the alanine aspartyl transferase (AST)-to-platelet ratio index (APRI), longitudinally and determined its predictive value for hepatic outcomes in HIV-positive patients with and without HCV coinfection. A total of 673 HIV-positive patients without liver complications at baseline (540 with HIV only, 133 with HIV-HCV coinfection) were followed between 1991 and 2004 for a median of 4.6 years (3524 person-years). At baseline, HIV-HCV coinfection had a higher median APRI compared with HIV infection alone (0.59 vs. 0.33; P < 0.0001). The natural logarithm of the APRI [ln(APRI)] changed significantly over time, particularly among patients with HIV-HCV coinfection. The baseline ln(APRI) was predictive of liver complications (hazard ratio [HR] = 4.0, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.5 to 6.4 per log), as was HCV (HR = 4.5, 95% CI: 1.5 to 14). Cumulative HAART did not protect against liver complications, although it was significantly associated with progression of APRI scores in HIV-HCV coinfection and in HIV alone. In conclusion, the APRI may be a useful marker for longitudinal evaluation of the progression of liver disease in HIV-HCV coinfection.},
keywords = {Alanine aspartyl transferase-to-platelet ratio index, Antiretroviral therapy, HCV, Hepatic Fibrosis, HIV},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}