Global Prevalence of Human Pegivirus-۱ (HPgV-۱) Infection among HIV-Positive Patients and the Impact of HPgV-۱ on HIV Viral Load and CD۴ Cell Count: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Human pegivirus-۱ (HPgV-۱) was first identified in ۱۹۹۶. The impact of HPgV-۱ on HIV viral load and CD۴ cell count is controversial. This study aimed to assess the global prevalence of HPgV-۱/HIV coinfection and the impact of HPgV-۱ on HIV viral load and CD۴ cell count. Materials & Methods: A literature search was performed in PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, Web of Science, ProQuest, Cochrane, and Global Index Medicus (GIM) up to January ۲۰۲۶. The I۲ statistic and Cochran’s Q test were used to assess heterogeneity. Subgroup analyses were carried out to find potential causes of heterogeneity. Funnel plot and Egger’s test were used to assess publication bias.Findings: A total of ۸۶ studies with ۱۹۰۵۰ HIV-positive cases, published from ۱۹۹۷ to ۲۰۲۳ and covering ۳۶ different countries, were included in this meta-analysis. The overall prevalence of HPgV-۱ among HIV-positive patients was ۲۵.۳%. The prevalence of HIV/ HPgV-۱ coinfection in different continents was as follows: ۲۶.۵% in Africa, ۲۱.۹% in Asia, ۲۶.۷% in Europe, ۲۴.۶% in North America, and ۲۵.۱% in South America. The overall mean of CD۴ cell count was significantly different between HPgV-۱-positive and HPgV-۱-negative patients, while the overall mean of HIV viral load was not significantly different.Conclusion: In this meta-analysis, the global prevalence of HPgV-۱/HIV coinfection was ۲۵.۳%, with coinfected patients showing higher CD۴ cell counts (p= .۰۰۴) but no impact on HIV viral load. The results suggest that HPgV-۱ may modulate HIV progression, though mechanisms remain unclear. Larger longitudinal studies are needed to confirm clinical significance and explore genotype-specific effects.

کلیدواژه ها:

CD۴ Lymphocyte Count ، Human pegivirus-۱ ، Prevalence ، HIV ، Viral load