Effect of GB virus C viremia on HIV acquisition and HIV set-point.

We performed both a case-control study and a cohort study to determine whether GB virus C (GBV-C) viremia prevents the acquisition of HIV infection or alters the HIV set-point after infection. The prevalence of GBV-C viremia in HIV-uninfected individuals who did and did not acquire HIV were similar (odds ratio 1.32; 95% confidence interval 0.6-2.6). Pre-existing GBV-C viremia at the time of HIV acquisition was also not associated with lower plasma HIV-RNA levels.