Does hepatitis B virus or hepatitis C virus infection influence CD4 count in HIV-positive individuals?

Objective of the study was to determine whether there is any influence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection on CD4 count decline rate in HIV-infected individuals. Retrospective analysis of consecutive CD4 counts was conducted in 72 HIV-infected untreated individuals (including 57 intravenous drug addict (i.v.d.a.)) in relation to their serological markers of HBV and HCV infection and the history of i.v. substance abuse. Anti-HBc seropositive individuals had slower CD4 count decline rates compared to anti-HBc seronegative ones (-0.20%/month vs. -2.90%/month, Kruskal-Wallis H = 4.77, p = 0.029). Anti-HCV serostatus had no influence on CD4 count decline rates (-0.47%/month for anti-HCV seropositive persons vs. -0.61%/month for anti-HCV seronegative ones, p = 0.91). History of i.v. substance abuse did not affect the CD4 count decline rates too (-0.83 for i.v.d.a. vs +0.74 for non-i.v.d.a., p = 0.26). In our study HIV-infected individuals seropositive for anti-HBc tended to have substantially lower CD4 count decline rates compared to seronegative ones. Neither anti-HCV serostatus nor the history of i.v. substance abuse influenced the CD4 count decline rate. This observation arises question about the possible nature (molecular?, immune-based?) of potential mutual interactions between HIV and HBV infections.