A prospective evaluation of hepatic, systemic and pulmonary hemodynamics in HIV-HCV coinfected patients prior and after antiviral therapy

Introduction: Patients coinfected with HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are at risk for developing portal hypertension and alteration in pulmonary and systemic hemodynamics. Wheter this risk can be influenced by antiviral therapy with pegylated interferon-alpha (PEGIFN) and ribavirin (RBV) is unclear. Methods: Hemodynamic parameters including portal pressure (HVPG), pulmonary arterial pressure (meanPAP), pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP), cardiac output (CO) and systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI) were evaluated during a prospective trial (HIVCOPEG) prior to and after antiviral therapy with PEGIFN+R…