Oxidative stress in hepatitis C virus–human immunodeficiency virus co-infected patients

AbstractIntroduction and objectivesHuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infection generates sustained inflammation with increased reactive oxygen species production. Pathogenic impact of systemic oxidative stress is recognized to influence on drug treatment and follow-up. The aim of this case–control study was to compare the redox status in HCV–HIV co-infected respect to HIV infected individuals and to explore relation between redox and HIV follow-up variables. Patients or materials and methodsBlood samples were drawn from 330 individuals divided into three groups: HIV, HCV–HIV and presumable healthy subjects. Redox, hematological, hemochemical, immunologic and virological indexes were determined. ResultsBoth HIV groups had significant differences in global indexes of damage and antioxidant status ( p< 0.05) respect supposedly healthy individual group. HCV–HIV group showed a significantly higher damage (total hydroperoxide and advanced oxidation protein products) compared to the control and HIV groups ( p< 0.05). Global modification of redox indexes showed 72% of individuals with simultaneous detrimental differences related to HCV–HIV condition. ConclusionsThese results corroborate that oxidative stress occurs in HIV condition and also during HCV–HIV co-infection, with different molecular changes of follow-up indexes. Redox indexes diagnosis should be considered in early diagnosis and treatment of HCV–HIV co-infection.