Treatment of Hepatitis C Before HAART Reduces Liver Toxicity

HIV-positive people also coinfected with hepatitis C are less likely to experience liver complications caused by anti-HIV medications if they take six months of antihepatitis drugs before initiating HIV antiretroviral therapy, researchers from Italy reported in the June 1 edition of the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes. Hepatitis C coinfection is somewhat common among HIV-positive Americans and is now one of the leading causes of death for those also infected with HIV. 'Our data allow us to suggest that anti-HCV therapy should be given before starting antiretroviral therapy because this may reduce the risk of severe antiretroviral therapy'related liver toxicity and probably reduces the risk of progressing to liver failure,' the researchers concluded. In related news: Although previous research has suggested that hepatitis C is commonly transmitted sexually among HIV-positive gay and bisexual men, a study in the May 15 edition of the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases showed that these men are not at a higher than normal risk for hepatitis C infection. More than 2,700 HIV-positive men were studied, and a total of 16.6% of the study patients were found to also carry the hepatitis C virus. But an analysis of risk factors showed that engaging in sex with other men was not significantly associated with HIV-HCV coinfection. The most common risk factors were injection drug use and a history of not sticking to an anti-HIV drug regimen.