Plasma metabolomic fingerprint of advanced cirrhosis stages among HIV/HCV‐coinfected and HCV‐monoinfected patients

Background & Aims Hepatitis C virus (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and cirrhosis induce metabolic disorders. Here, we aimed to evaluate the association of plasma metabolites with Child‐Turcotte‐Pugh (CTP) score and hepatic decompensation in HIV/HCV‐coinfected and HCV‐monoinfected patients with advanced cirrhosis. Methods A cross‐sectional study was carried out in 62 HIV/HCV‐coinfected and 28 HCV‐monoinfected patients. Metabolomics analysis was performed by gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (GC‐MS) and liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry (LC‐MS). The statistical association analysis was performed by partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS‐DA) and generalized linear model (GLM) with binomial distribution (to analyse HIV coinfection, high alcohol intake, treatment with statins, previous HCV therapy failure and decompensation) and ordinal logistic regression (OLR) models to analyse different stages of cirrhosis (CTP score). Results The statistical analysis identified plasma metabolites associated with HIV coinfection, high alcohol intake, CTP score and hepatic decompensation. Overall, fatty acids, bile acids, aromatic and sulphur amino acids, butyrate derivatives, oxidized phospholipids, energy‐related metabolites and bacterial fermentation‐related metabolites were increased in more advanced cirrhosis stages; while lysophosphatidylcholines and lysophosphatidylethanolamines, branched‐chain amino acids (BCAA) and metabolites of tricarboxylic acid cycle, among others, were decreased in more advanced cirrhosis. Most of the significant metabolites displayed a similar trend after stratifying for HIV/HCV‐ and HCV‐infected patients. Glycolic acid, LPC (16:0) and taurocholic acid had high accuracy for discriminating patients according to decompensated cirrhosis (CTP ≥ 7). Conclusion Altered plasma metabolomic profile was associated with advanced stages of cirrhosis in HIV/HCV‐coinfected and HCV‐monoinfected patients.