Role of GB Virus C in HIV-1–Infected and Hepatitis C Virus–Infected Hemophiliac Children and Adolescents

Background: GB Virus C (GBV-C) has been associated with a better prognosis of HIV-1 disease in adults. Little is known about prevalence and interaction between GBV-C, HIV-1, and/or hepatitis C virus (HCV) in hemophiliac children and adolescents. Methods: A well-characterized cohort of HIV-1–infected and HIV-1–uninfected hemophiliac children and adolescents followed in the Hemophilia Growth and Development Study (HGDS) were evaluated using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction to detect GBV-C RNA in samples from baseline and last follow-up visit. Results: HIV-1–infected (n = 202) and HIV-1–uninfected (n = 119) patients had a low prevalence of GBV-C infection at baseline (0.9 and 0%), which increased at time of last follow-up visit to 25.2% and 26.3%, respectively. In addition, at the time of the follow-up GBV-C measurement, those GBV-C infected had been followed longer and had higher CD4+ cell counts and lower HIV-1 viral loads than those GBV-C uninfected. These beneficial effects of GBV-C were no longer significant after controlling for CD4+ cell count and HIV-1 RNA at baseline. HCV RNA clearance was more common amongst those who were not GBV-C infected than those who became GBV-C viremic. Conclusions: This study confirms a positive association of GBV-C with milder course of HIV-1 infection. GBV-C infection was associated with a higher likelihood of persistent HCV infection.