HCV NS3 naturally occurring variants in HIV/HCV coinfected DAA-naïve patients: consideration for HCV genotyping resistance testing

Data on the frequency of HCV naturally occurring drug-resistant variants (RAVs) at baseline in HIV/HCV coinfected patients are scarce. NS3-HCV RAVs were studied by full-population direct sequencing from plasma specimens of 345 DAA-naive patients with HCV chronic hepatitis (159 of them with HIV/HCV-coinfection). NS3 RAVs were identified in 31.5 % of patients, with a significant proportion of HIV/HCV coinfected DAA-naive patients compared to those with HCV monoinfection (38 vs. 25 % p = 0.0104, OR 1.84; 95 % CI 1.162–2.916). HCV resistance genotyping test before treatment may be worth in special populations such as HIV/HCV coinfection to optimize patient treatment.