WANG-HUEI SHENGCHIEN-CHING HUNGWu R.-J.JANN-TAY WANGPEI-JER CHENSHAN-CHWEN CHANGJIA-HORNG KAO2020-12-302020-12-3020071058-4838https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84984535747&doi=10.1086%2f511037&partnerID=40&md5=a5e46489903ff0363776ff360d1515bbhttps://scholars.lib.ntu.edu.tw/handle/123456789/535818Background. The influence of GB virus C (GBV-C) viremia on clinical outcomes of patients with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection remains controversial in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Methods. A prospective observational study was conducted to describe the epidemiology of GBV-C viremia and assess its clinical impact on treatment responses to HAART in 385 HIV-1-infected patients during the period from January 1999 through June 2004. Results. A total of 59 patients (15.3%) had detectable GBV-C RNA viremia during a median observation of 3.6 years (range, 1.0-7.0 years); 47 patients (12.2%) had GBV-C viremia at enrollment, and 12 (3.1%) acquired GBV-C infection during follow-up. Thirty-two (68.1%) of the 47 patients with baseline GBV-C viremia had persistent GBV-C viremia. Compared with patients with clearance of GBV-C viremia (n = 15) and patients without detectable GBV-C viremia (n = 326), patients with persistent GBV-C viremia were more likely to be men who have sex with men (81.3% vs. 60.4%; P = .02), tended to have lower baseline plasma HIV RNA load (HIV RNA load ?5 log10 copies/mL, 31.3% vs. 49.4%; P = .05), and had a higher proportion of isolated anti-hepatitis B core antibody (37.5% vs. 17.2%; P = .005). There was no statistically significant difference in terms of virologic, immunologic, and clinical responses to HAART; occurrence of hepatic events; and mortality among the 3 groups. Conclusions. Persistent GBV-C viremia is significantly associated with male-male sex in HIV-infected patients with advanced immunodeficiency, and persistent GBV-C viremia does not confer short-term benefit in patients receiving HAART. ? 2006 by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved.[SDGs]SDG3antiretrovirus agent; hepatitis B core antibody; proteinase inhibitor; ritonavir; RNA directed DNA polymerase inhibitor; virus RNA; adult; article; controlled study; disease association; disease transmission; female; Hepatitis G virus; highly active antiretroviral therapy; human; Human immunodeficiency virus 1; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; Kaplan Meier method; major clinical study; male; mortality; outcome assessment; priority journal; prospective study; Taiwan; treatment response; viremia; virus loadjournal article10.1086/51103717243064