HCV drug resistance mutations in HIV-infected patients

Abstract

Aim. The aim of our work was to assess the mutations prevalence in the HCV drug resistance in the NS3, NS5A, NS5B genes in HIVinfected patients.
 Materials and methods. The material of the study was 157 blood plasma samples from HIV patients living in the Leningrad Region, with virological inefficiency of antiretroviral therapy. Samples were examined for the presence of anti-HCV antibodies and HCV RNA. In the case of detecting HCV RNA, amplification was carried out using a set of primers co-flanking the NS3, NS5A, and NS5B genes. After sequencing the nucleotide sequences of these genes, the virus subtype was determined and drug resistance mutations were detected.
 
 Results and discussion. The age of the patients varied from 18 to 65 and averaged 34.3 7.27 years. The number of men in the group prevailed compared to women - 71% and 28%, respectively. Antibodies to HCV were detected in 94.2% of HIV-infected persons. HCV RNA was detected in 98 (61.7%) patients. The distribution of HCV genotypes in this group was as follows: 1a 7% (n=7), 1b 53% (n=52), 2 2% (n=2), 3a 38% (n=37). The results of determining the viral load varied from 5.3x103 to 2.3x108 IU/ml. The nucleotide sequence of all three regions NS3, NS5A, NS5B was determined in 73 samples. In the study group, mutations associated with resistance of the hepatitis C virus to direct antiviral drugs in all regions were found in 16.6% of cases (n=26). There are 6 significant amino acid substitutions in the NS3 region, 15 and 10 significant amino acid substitutions in the NS5A and NS5B regions, respectively.