HIV, HCV, and HAART

Studies have shown that individuals with chronic hepatitis C infection progress more quickly to liver damage and disease if coinfected with HIV. But there are steps such coinfected individuals can take to protect their livers, including sticking to an effective antiretroviral regimen, scientists say. Researchers in Spain tracked 119 coinfected patients and found that levels of the enzyme alanine aminotransferase, a biomarker of liver inflammation, were lowest among those on successful anti-HIV therapy. 'These results suggest that HAART might decrease hepatitis C activity in HIV-HCV coinfected patients with CD4-cell counts of more than 350,' the researchers conclude.