title: HIV/HCV co-infection: pathogenesis, clinical complications, treatment, and new therapeutic technologies.
abstract: World-wide, hepatitis C virus (HCV) accounts for approximately 130 million chronic infections, with an overall 3% prevalence. Four to 5 million persons are co-infected with HIV. It is well established that HIV has a negative impact on the natural history of HCV, including a higher rate of viral persistence, increased viral load, and more rapid progression to fibrosis, end-stage liver disease, and death. Whether HCV has a negative impact on HIV disease progression continues to be debated. However, following the introduction of effective combination antiretroviral therapy, the survival of coinfected individuals has significantly improved and HCV-associated diseases have emerged as the most important co-morbidities. In this review, we summarize the newest studies regarding the pathogenesis of HIV/HCV coinfection, including effects of coinfection on HIV disease progression, HCV-associated liver disease, the immune system, kidney and cardiovascular disease, and neurologic status; and effectiveness of current anti-HIV and HCV therapies and proposed new treatment strategies.
authors.affiliation: Maternal Child and Adolescent Center for Infectious Diseases and Virology, Department of Pediatrics, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, 90033, USA. eva@usc.edu
authors.forename: Eva A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Operskalski
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kovacs
mesh_terms: D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000379:methods; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000379:methods; D006678:HIV / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D012254:Ribavirin