HIV Patients Co-Infected With HCV Face Higher Mortality Rates

Guest Blog By: Marcus J. Hopkins, Consultant, Community Access National Network (CANN)

Reprinted with Permission from the Community Access National Network

A ten-year follow-up study has found that people living with HIV who are co-infected with Hepatitis C (HCV) face an increased risk of mortality by 4.3%, even when receiving treatment for HIV (Bender, 2018). The same study found that treatment with HCV Direct-Acting Antivirals (DAAs) resulted in a lower risk of mortality than those whose HCV went untreated, but that the harm caused by HCV still resulted in increased risk.

Photo Source: medscape.com

One of the primary consequences of untreated HCV infections is damage to the liver – damage that is no immediately repair itself once the virus is successfully treated. Liver fibrosis – scarring of the liver that prevents the organ from properly functioning – is not healed by HCV treatment, and depending upon the severity of the scarring, the liver may never completely regenerate. Those whose livers are cirrhotic – those with late-stage liver scarring – will likely never fully recover optimum liver function and may become dependent upon other prescription medications and dietary restrictions to aid in liver functions such detoxifying substances in the body, purifying blood, and making vital nutrients (Welch, 2017).

This issue is one that receives far less attention than it deserves and is part of why there is so much opposition against including Fibrosis Scoring in treatment determinations. While it may seem financially prudent in the short-term to limit treatment of HCV to those who are “sick enough” to be treated, the long-term negative health impacts of liver scarring are far costlier in the long-term. For those living with HIV, liver function is of critical concern as that is where most HIV medications are metabolized. If liver function is impaired, the drugs may not properly metabolize, making the treatment of HIV less effective.

References:

• Bender, K. (2018, October 23). HCV Increases Mortality of People with HIV Despite Antiretroviral Treatment. Cranbury, NJ: Intellisphere, LLC: MD Magazine. Retrieved from: https://www.mdmag.com/medical-news/hcv-increases-mortality-of-people-with-hiv-despite-antiretroviral-treatment

• Welch, C.M. (2017, August 16). Hepatitis C Treatment and Cirrhosis. Hep Mag. Retrieved from: https://www.hepmag.com/blog/hepatitis-c-treatment-cirrhosis

Disclaimer: Guest blogs do not necessarily reflect the views of the ADAP Advocacy Association, but rather they provide a neutral platform whereby the author serves to promote open, honest discussion about public health-related issues and updates.