Factors associated with high alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and cirrhosis in people living with HIV on combination antiretroviral treatment (cART) in the Asia-Pacific

J Med Virol. 2022 Nov;94(11):5451-5464. doi: 10.1002/jmv.28019. Epub 2022 Aug 15.

Abstract

Liver disease is a growing burden among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in resource-limited settings. As an indicator of liver disease, risk factors of high alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and cirrhosis were assessed among PLHIV in the TREAT Asia HIV Observational Database (TAHOD). Patients on combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) with a pre-cART ALT measurement and at least one follow-up ALT measurement were included. Factors associated with high ALT (ALT levels > 5 times its upper limit of normal) were analyzed using repeated measure logistic regression over a 10-year follow-up period. Liver cirrhosis was defined as having an AST to Platelet Ratio Index score > 1.5, fibrosis-4 score > 3.25, or a clinical diagnosis of cirrhosis. Cox regression analysis stratified by site was used to analyze factors associated with cirrhosis among those in follow-up after 2015. Of 5182 patients, 101 patients (1.9%) had high ALT levels with hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody positive (odds ratio [OR]: 4.98, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.82-8.77, p < 0.001) and ever high alcohol consumption (OR: 2.33, 95% CI: 1.00-5.46, p = 0.050) as likely factors. Among 6318 PLHIV in the liver cirrhosis analysis, 151 (2%) developed cirrhosis (incidence rate = 0.82 per 100 person-years). Those HCV-antibody positive (hazard ratio [HR]: 5.54, 95% CI: 3.75-8.18, p < 0.001) and had high alcohol consumption (HR: 2.06, 95% CI: 1.23-3.45, p = 0.006) were associated with liver cirrhosis. HCV-antibody positive and high alcohol consumption are factors associated with high ALT. With raised ALT levels as a known factor associated with liver cirrhosis, greater efforts are required in managing ALT levels and reducing the risk of developing liver cirrhosis among those positive for HCV-antibody and those who consume alcohol.

Keywords: ALT elevations; Asia-Pacific; HIV; cirrhosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alanine Transaminase
  • HIV Infections* / complications
  • HIV Infections* / drug therapy
  • Hepatitis C* / complications
  • Hepatitis C* / drug therapy
  • Hepatitis C* / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Liver Cirrhosis / complications
  • Liver Cirrhosis / etiology
  • Liver Diseases* / complications

Substances

  • Alanine Transaminase