title: Should HIV/HCV coinfected patients with severe hepatitis be treated for hepatitis C.
abstract: FREQUENT COINFECTION: One third of HIV-infected patients also carry the hepatitis C virus. Liver disease (fibrosis) in hepatitis C progresses faster and is more severe in HIV patients than in non-coinfected patients. HEPATITIS C SHOULD BE TREATED: The prolongation of survival of HIV patients since the introduction of highly active antiretroviral treatments (HAART), the faster progression of HCV-related cirrhosis in cases of HIV-HCV coinfection, the increased mortality associated with hepatitis, and the hepatotoxicity of antiretroviral treatments are all arguments in favor of treating hepatitis C in HIV patients. A combination of peginterferon and ribavirin is the treatment of choice for hepatitis C. It has been assessed in patients with HIV-HCV coinfection and showed satisfactory levels of prolonged virologic response. A treatment of 48 weeks is recommended regardless of genotype. Early virologic response is an excellent predictive factor for prolonged response; if no response is observed at 12 weeks, treatment can be stopped. IMPACT OF HAART: Antiretroviral treatment seems to have a positive effect on the course of hepatitis C that exceeds its risk of hepatotoxicity.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Universitätsklinik I, Bonn. juergen.rockstroh@ukb.uni-bonn.de
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Rockstroh
mesh_terms: D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents