FMUI’s Researcher Did A Study on The Effect of  Viral Mutation on Hepatitis C Virus-HIV Coinfection Therapy

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is commonly found alongside hepatitis C virus infection (HCV). Or also known as HCV-HIV coinfection. HIV infection will worsen hepatitis C disease and decrease treatment response. Combination of pegylated interferon and ribavirin (Peg-IFN/RBV) is one of chronic hepatitis C treatment option given within 48 weeks, but the treatment result is usually not satisfying, especially in HCV-HIV co-infected patients.

Many factors affecting treatment response has been researched, known factors include viral factor, host factor, and drug factor. Viral mutation plays an important role in treatment in determining result. However, studies covering this is very few, and the existing studies only focuses on the number of mutation.

From those backgrounds, a further study is needed to see the number of mutation and type of mutation affecting treatment response. By knowing the type of mutation, we hope to be able to determine the role of mutation in what therapy should be given to the HCV-HIV coinfection patient. Until this day, there are no research on the type of mutation in HCV-HIV coinfected patient.

dr. Juferdy Kurniawan, SpPD-KGEH, a researcher from Medical Science Doctoral Program FMUI did the research. All patients were examined for viral mutation before undergoing Peg-IFN/RBV therapy. This research found that HCV that experienced mutation that causes functional change on specific location gave poorer treatment result compared to HCV that didn’t experience mutation. Another finding of this study shows a mutation in one or more amino acid on HCV is enough to give Peg-IFN/RBV good treatment response.

These days, HCV treatment is slowly replaced by direct acting antiviral (DAA), therefore a study on mutation type is needed before DAA treatment initiation.

The result was presented by dr. Juferdy Kurniawan, SpPD-KGEH on his doctoral hearing, Monday, May 27th 2019 in IMERI Auditerium. The dissertation was titled “The role of NS5A Region in Hepatitis C Virus Mutation and Host’s SNP IL-28B Mutation in Pegylated Interferon and Ribavirin Therapy on HCV-HIV Co-infected Patients”. The head examiner was Prof. Dr. dr. Suhendro, SpPD-KPTI, and other examiner includes dr. Nafrialdi, SpPD, SpFK, PhD; Prof. dr. Suzanna Immanuel, SpPK(K); Dr. dr. Kuntjoro Harimurti, MSc, SpPD-K.Ger; and Prof. dr. Lukman Hakim Zain, SpPD-KGEH from North Sumatera University.

At the end of the hearing, Prof. Dr. dr. Ari Fahrial Syam, SpPD-KGEH, MMB inaugurated dr. Juferdy Kurniawan, SpPD-KGEH as a Doctor in Medical Science of FMUI. At their closing regards, protomor Dr. dr. Rino Alvani Gani, SpPD-KGEH and co-promotors Prof. Dr. dr. Samsuridjal Djauzi, SpPD-KAI, FINASIM and dr. R. Fera Ibrahim, MSc, SpMK(K), PhD wished this study can be applicated on real life practices, even though further validation is needed.

(Public Relations FMUI)