Abstract: AIM: To investigate the immune function difference between HCV infected patients and patients coinfected with HIV and to analyze its potential mechanism. METHODS: 30 patients of HCV infection and 28 patients of coinfected with HIV were studied. The serological anti-HCV antibodies of patients were detected with Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). HCV RNA was detected with Quantitate fluorescence PCR assay. Facs Calibur flow cytometry was used to detect CD₄⁺ and CD₈⁺ cells. RESULTS: There were 9 cases of negative anti-HCV antibody in 28 patients coinfected with HIV. HCV RNA virus load in HIV coinfected patients was more than that in HCV alone infected patients; CD₄⁺ cell was lower than that in HCV infected patients. In HIV coin fected patients ALT and AST levels were raised significantly compared with those in HCV infected patients. CONCLUSION: It is very important to detect HCV RNA and analyze the immune function of HIV coinfected patients for treatment and slowing down advancement of hepatopathy.

Key words: HCV, Coinfected HIV, Immune function