HIV-reservoir size is not affected either by HCV coinfection or by direct acting antivirals (DAAs) therapy

Abstract

The role of HCV on the HIV reservoir is controversial since the reduction on HIV-DNA levels after HCV eradication with IFNα/RBV treatment seems to be the result of drugs instead of HCV clearance. We assessed whether HCV eradication can decrease HIV-DNA content in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients treated with direct-acting antivirals, DAAs (IFNα/RBV-free regimens). Cell-associated HIV-DNA was measured by ddPCR in 25 HIV-monoinfected and 25 HIV/HCV-coinfected patients. There were no differences in HIV-DNA levels between groups neither at baseline nor at 12 weeks after DAAs treatment completion. Our results indicate that HCV does not appear to influence the HIV reservoir size and suggest the lack of an anti-HIV action for DAAs.