Distinct metabolomic and lipidomic profiles associated with cirrhosis after HCV cure in people with HIV: findings at one and five years

Abstract Background & Aims People with HIV (PWH) who achieve hepatitis C virus (HCV) cure may retain persistent metabolic alterations, particularly those with advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis. This study aimed to characterize plasma metabolomic and lipidomic profiles associated with cirrhosis in PWH at one and five years post-HCV therapy. Methods Two cross-sectional studies evaluated PWH one (n=48) and five (n=30) years post-HCV therapy. Cirrhosis was defined as a liver stiffness measurement (LSM)≥12.5 kPa. Metabolomics and lipidomics were performed using capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry (CE-MS) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), respectively. Data were analyzed using orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) and generalized linear models (GLM), adjusting for relevant covariates. Results At one and five years, 32 (66.7%) and 10 (33.3%) participants, respectively, had cirrhosis. OPLS-DA identified 235 and 229 metabolites with variable importance in projection (VIP)scores >1. At one year, cirrhosis was associated with elevated levels of glycerophospholipids, sphingomyelins, and amino acids, and lower levels of triglycerides. At five years, cirrhotic PWH exhibited higher levels of glycerophospholipids and acyl-carnitines, together with lower levels of triglycerides and amino acids. Conclusions PWH with cirrhosis post-HCV cure exhibits a persistently altered metabolic profile stable for five years, suggesting ongoing liver disease progression. These findings underscore the need for continued long-term monitoring of this population.