title: HIV and hepatitis C virus: special concerns for patients with cirrhosis.
abstract: Since the advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy, liver disease has been a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Chronic viral hepatitis accounts for >80% of liver-related mortality. Liver-related morbidity is due to acceleration of hepatitis C virus (HCV) disease, drug-induced hepatotoxicity, and, possibly, direct damage from HIV infection itself. As a consequence of this complex interaction, end-stage liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma are frequent complications in patients with HIV infection. Infectious diseases physicians who care for HIV-infected patients with advanced HCV-related liver disease need to know how to assess for advanced fibrosis, to know when to refer a patient for endoscopic screening for varices, and to enroll patients in a screening program for hepatocellular carcinoma.
authors: Liver Center, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA. mcurry@bidmc.harvard.edu
authors: Michael P
authors: MP
authors: Curry
mesh_terms: D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D060085:Coinfection / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000379:methods; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology