title: Hepatitis C virus in the setting of HIV or hepatitis B virus coinfection.
abstract: Because of shared routes of transmission, coinfection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) or hepatitis B virus (HBV), or both, is common among HIV-infected persons, affecting approximately 15 to 30% and 10 to 15% of patients, respectively. Advances in antiretroviral therapy have improved the life expectancy of patients infected with HIV, and, as a consequence, HCV-related liver disease has emerged as a significant comorbid disease among such patients. Concurrent HIV infection may be associated with higher serum HCV RNA levels, accelerated progression of hepatic fibrosis, increased risk of end-stage liver disease, hepatocellular carcinoma and death among persons coinfected with hepatitis C. Similarly, coinfection with HCV and HBV may lead to more severe liver disease and greater risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) than does HCV infection alone. Although definitive randomized controlled trials are not yet completed, current guidelines recommend the use of pegylated interferon alfa plus ribavirin for the treatment of chronic HCV in eligible HIV-infected persons. Conversely, the optimal treatment of chronic HCV in persons with chronic HBV infection has not been defined but may include pegylated interferon alfa plus ribavirin, with or without additional antiviral agents, such as lamivudine or adefovir, or both.
authors.affiliation: Virginia Commonwealth University Health System/Medical College of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia 23298, USA. rksterli@hsc.vcu.edu
authors.forename: Richard K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Sterling
authors.forename: Mark S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Sulkowski
mesh_terms: D000225:Adenine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015897:Comorbidity; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D063065:Organophosphonates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D063065:Organophosphonates; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D019259:Lamivudine; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C053001:adefovir; D000225:Adenine; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a