title: HCV-HIV co-infected patients: no longer a 'special' population?
abstract: Prior to the advent of safe and highly effective hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment, patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/HCV co-infection were referred to as a 'special' population. This definition was based on more rapid HCV disease progression in the presence of HIV co-infection, limited effectiveness of interferon-based HCV treatment and potential drug interactions between medications used to treat HIV and those to treat HCV infection. Although the availability of interferon-free, oral direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) has dramatically increased the effectiveness of HCV treatment in patients with HIV co-infection, this population still warrants special consideration. Specific issues for the treatment of patients with HIV/HCV co-infection in the era of oral DAAs include a high HCV disease burden with ongoing HCV infection and re-infection following successful treatment, frequent drug interactions that must be carefully evaluated and unanswered questions on the role of shorter HCV treatment durations.
authors.affiliation: John Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Mark S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Sulkowski
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D060085:Coinfection / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004347:Drug Interactions; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007372:Interferons
keywords: direct-acting antivirals; hepatitis C virus; human immunodeficiency virus