Effect of HCV eradication on critical flicker frequency in HIV/HCV coinfected patients with advanced cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND

Critical flicker frequency (CFF), defined as the frequency at which a subject perceives a flickering light as continuous, is directly associated with central nervous system alertness.

METHODS

We studied CFF using the Hepatonorm analyzer (Medi-Business Freiburg GmGH, Germany) at baseline and after hepatitis C virus (HCV) eradication in 47 patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/HCV coinfection and cirrhosis. Patients had a mean age of 52 years, 81% were male, and 80% had a history of drug use.

RESULTS

We observed an increase in the CFF at the end of HCV therapy compared to baseline (42.3 ± 8.5 Hz vs. 45.9 ± 7.8 Hz; p = 0.001), and a reduction in the proportion of patients with subclinical hepatic encephalopathy (defined as a CFF <39 Hz) from 15 (32%) of 47 patients at baseline to 7 (17%) of 41 patients after HCV therapy (p = 0.180).

CONCLUSION

HCV eradication in HIV/HCV coinfected patients increases CFF, indicating improved liver function.