title: Human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C virus co-infection.
abstract: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major cause of liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma worldwide, as well as the leading cause of liver transplantations in the United States. As a result of similar modes of transmission, approximately 30% of HIV-infected individuals are co-infected with HCV. Among intravenous drug users, almost 90% of people infected with HIV are also infected with HCV. Because of treatment with highly active anti-retroviral therapy, HIV-infected individuals have improved survival and are no longer suffering from opportunistic infections and malignancy as in years past. As a result, co-infection with HCV has now become a frequent cause of morbidity and mortality in HIV-infected individuals. Furthermore, liver disease secondary to HCV infection is now the leading cause of hospital deaths in HIV-infected people in the US. HIV infection accelerates the course of HCV-related liver disease and viremia. It is less clear whether HCV infection affects the clinical course of HIV; however, HCV-related liver disease can limit many individuals from receiving anti-HIV therapy. HIV/ HCV co-infection is common, and serious. Physicians caring for HIV-infected patients worldwide must now address hepatitis C virus co-infection.
authors.affiliation: Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota, USA. vlahakis.stacey@mayo.edu
authors.forename: Stacey R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Vlahakis
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015897:Comorbidity; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D016174:Hepacivirus; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000821:virology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007370:Interferon Type I; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin