Strategies for managing hepatitis C virus infection in HIV-infected patients.
Liver disease associated with hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a significant and increasing cause of death for HIV-infected patients, but limited data exist to guide treatment of coinfection. Increased knowledge of HCV disease and its treatment among HIV care practitioners and adoption of routine care procedures can improve management of coinfected patients. This article discusses HCV screening and diagnosis, counseling and health care maintenance, and evaluation for and supervision of treatment in HIV-seropositive patients who are coinfected with HCV. The experiences of the Oakland, California-based Alameda County Medical Center, which treats more than 200 coinfected patients, are detailed and serve as the basis for suggested management strategies. This article summarizes a presentation given by Kathleen A. Clanon, MD at the November 2002 International AIDS Society-USA course in San Diego.
Clanon
Kathleen A
KA
Alameda County Medical Center Combined HIV Services, CA, USA.
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D019091:Critical Pathways; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019562:Viral Load
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha