Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) clearance after treatment with direct-acting antivirals in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-HCV coinfection modulates systemic immune activation and HIV transcription on antiretroviral therapy

Abstract

Background. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfection among people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) might perturb immune function and HIV persistence. We aimed to evaluate the impact of HCV clearance with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) on immune activation and HIV persistence in HIV/HCV-coinfected individuals on antiretroviral therapy (ART). Methods. In a prospective observational study, ART-treated participants with HIV/HCV coinfection received sofosbuvir/ daclatasvir } ribavirin (n = 19). Blood samples were collected before DAA therapy, at the end of treatment, and 12 months after DAA termination (12MPT). T- and natural killer (NK)-cell phenotype, soluble plasma factors, cell-associated ..