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Background/Aims: There is only limited information on the prevalence and influence of coinfection with either hepatitis B or C on the clinical course in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Methods: Follow-up was available in 232 HIV-infected patients (age 37±8 years, CD4 count 167±167 μl; 46% had AIDS). Samples were investigated for markers of HBV and HCV infection (HBsAg, HBeAg, HBV-DNA, Anti-HBs, anti-HBc, anti-HCV, HCV-RNA). Results: 60/232 patients (23%) were anti-HCV positive. 78% of these sera were positive for HCV-RNA. 22/232 patients (9%) suffered from chronic HBV infection (HBsAg positive), 1822 (82%) of these sera had detectable HBeAg and 1922 (86%) HBV-DNA. Presence of HCV-RNA, HBeAg and amount of HBV-DNA were related to the degree of immunodeficiency. In contrast to the control group without HBV or HCV infection, patients infected with HIV and either HBV or HCV showed a direct correlation between a reduction in CD4 counts and decreased cholinesterase activity. In patients with AIDS, coinfection with HBV or HCV was associated with a reduced survival compared to controls (HBV: 212 days, 95% CI, 106–317; HCV: 267, 95% CI, 112–396; controls: 439 days, 95% CI, 364–513). Conclusions: Coinfection of HIV and HBV or HCV is frequently observed. Our results suggest that with prolonged survival of HIV-infected patients, coinfection with either HBV or HCV correlates with a reduced survival rate.

298 ESCITALOPRAM FOR THE PREVENTION OF PEG-IFN-a AND RIBAVIRIN ASSOCIATED DEPRESSION IN HCV-INFECTED PATIENTS: FINAL RESULTS FROM THE CIPPAD-TRIAL M. Schaefer, R. Sarkar, V. Weich, S. Effenberger, L. Heinze, U. Spengler, T. Schlaepfer, J. Ockenga, P. Buggisch, J. Reimer, R. Link, O. Kummer, K. Lieb, H. Weidenbach, M. Rentrop, T. Discher, G. Fromm, S. Zeuzem, T. Berg. Klinik fur Psychiatrie, Psychotherapie und Suchtmedizin, Kliniken Essen-Mitte, Essen, Klinik fur Psychiatrie, Campus Mitte, Charite, Universitatsmedizin Berlin, Klinik fur Gastroenterologie und Hepatologie, Charite Universitatsmedizin, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Berlin, Medizinische Klinik II, Klinik fur Psychiatrie, Universitatsklinik Bonn, Bonn, Medizinische Klinik II, Klinikum Bremen-Mitte, Bremen, Medizinische Klinik I, Klinik fur Psychiatrie, UKE Hamburg, Hamburg, Medizinische Klinik, St. Josefs Klinik Offenburg, Offenburg, Abteilung Innere Medizin II, Universitat Freiburg, Freiburg, Klinik fur Psychiatrie, Universitatsklinikum Mainz, Mainz, II. Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik, Klinik fur Psychiatrie, Technische Universitat Munchen, Munchen, Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik II, Klinik fur Psychiatrie, Universitatsklinik Giessen, Giessen, Medizinische Klinik I, Goethe Universitatsklinik, Frankfurt/Main, Germany E-mail: m.schaefer@kliniken-essen-mitte.de