Cholesterol levels in HIV–HCV infected patients treated with lopinavir/r: Results from the SCOLTA project

Background It is not known whether antiretroviral therapy (ART) including lopinavir/r has a different effect on the lipid metabolism in HIV patients co-infected with HCV. This study investigated changes in lipid levels, comparing patients with HIV infection alone and those with HCV too, in the lopinavir/r cohort of the SCOLTA project. Methods We analyzed the data for the lopinavir/r nationwide cohort from 25 Italian infectious disease departments, which comprises 743 HIV-infected patients followed prospectively, comparing subjects with HIV–HCV co-infection and those with single-infection. Results At enrolment, co-infected patients had significantly lower mean cholesterol than HCV negative cases (162 ± 43 mg/dL vs. 185 ± 52 mg/dL, p = 0.0009). Total and non-HDL cholesterol and triglycerides rose significantly from baseline in HIV single-infection patients, but not in those with co-infection. The patients with dual HIV–HCV infection, treated with an ART regimen including lopinavir/r, have only limited increases in total and non-HDL cholesterol and triglycerides. Conclusions Changes in serum lipids in co-infected patients differed significantly from those in patients without HCV. It remains to be seen whether this is associated with a lower risk of progression of atherosclerotic disease.