Management complexities of HIV/hepatitis C virus coinfection in the twenty-first century

Clin Liver Dis. 2008 Aug;12(3):587-609, ix. doi: 10.1016/j.cld.2008.03.009.

Abstract

Because of shared routes of transmission, hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfection is common among HIV-infected persons. Because of the effectiveness of antiretroviral therapy, chronic HCV has now emerged as a major cause of morbidity and mortality in this population. Because chronic HCV is highly prevalent among HIV-infected patients and has a rapid disease progression, antiviral therapy with pegylated interferon plus ribavirin is critical for the long-term survival of HIV/HCV-coinfected patients. In this article, the authors review the (1) epidemiology of HCV among HIV-infected individuals, (2) effect of HIV on the natural history of chronic HCV, (3) impact of antiretroviral therapy on HCV coinfection, and (4) management of chronic HCV in the HIV-infected person.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / drug therapy*
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Comorbidity
  • HIV
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents