Coinfection

Coinfected People May Control HIV but not HBV on a Tenofovir Regimen

More then one-third of people coinfected with HIV and hepatitis B virus (HBV) did not achieve or maintain HBV suppression after 1 year of taking tenofovir (Viread), even though they had undetectable HIV viral load indicating good adherence, according to study findings presented at the recent American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases "Liver Meeting" (AASLD 2010) in Boston.

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Are IL28B Gene Variations Associated with Outcomes in People with Hepatitis B?

IL28B gene patterns may influence response to interferon therapy for hepatitis B, but this is not as straightforward as it is for hepatitis C, according to a set of studies presented at the recent American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases "Liver Meeting" (AASLD 2010) in Boston. Two analyses suggested that people with the protective rs12979860 C/C pattern were more likely to achieve sustained virological suppression with interferon, but less likely to experience HBeAg seroconversion. A third study, however, found no link between rs12979860 pattern and hepatitis B or HIV persistence or progression.

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ICAAC 2009: Resistance to Hepatitis B Drugs is Common among HIV-HBV Coinfected Patients Receiving Lamivudine-containing ART without Tenofovir (Viread)

Resistance to the hepatitis B drugs adefovir (Hepsera), entecavir (Baraclude), and telbivudine (Tyzeka) is common among HIV-HBV coinfected individuals treated with antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimens that include lamivudine (3TC; Epivir) without tenofovir (Viread, also in the Truvada and Atripla coformulations), according to a poster presented at 49th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC 2009) this week in San Francisco. These findings support the recommendation that coinfected patients should be treated with ART regimens containing at least 2 drugs with dual activity against HIV and HBV.

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AIDS 2010: Drug Resistance Linked to Faster Hepatitis B Liver Disease Progression in HIV/HBV Coinfected Patients

HIV/HBV coinfected individuals may be less likely to have hepatitis B virus (HBV) with mutations conferring resistance to lamivudine (3TC; Epivir), but those who do have drug resistance experience faster liver disease progression and are more likely to develop cirrhosis, according to a study from Romania presented last month at the XVIII International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2010) in Vienna.

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HIV/HBV Coinfected Patients Respond to ART as well as HIV Monoinfected

HIV positive people coinfected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) respond as well to combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) as individuals with HIV alone, but they are more likely to die due to non-AIDS-related causes, according to a study published in the September 10, 2009 issue of AIDS.

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National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable Applauds National AIDS Strategy's Recognition of HIV/HCV Coinfection

The National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable (NVHR) praised the inclusion of hepatitis B and C coinfection in the White House Office of National AIDS Policy's National HIV/AIDS Strategy released last week, given that an about 30% of HIV positive people also have HCV and approximately 10% also have HBV. The advocates also expressed hope that the administration will take a similar comprehensive approach to hepatitis B and C monoinfection, the latter of which affects about 4 times as many people as HIV.

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HIV-HBV Coinfected Patients Respond to Antiretroviral Therapy as well as HIV Monoinfected, but Have a Higher Risk of Non-AIDS Death

HIV positive people coinfected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) respond as well to combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) as individuals with HIV alone, but they are more likely to die due to non-AIDS-related causes, according to a study published in the September 10, 2009 issue of AIDS.

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Elevated ALT Liver Enzymes in HIV Patients without Hepatitis B or C Are Linked to High Viral Load, Obesity, Alcohol, and Some NRTIs

Among HIV positive individuals without coexisting hepatitis C virus (HCV) or hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, the incidence of persistent elevated ALT levels was 3.9 cases per 100 person-years, researchers reported in the February 15, 2010 issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases. The risk of ALT elevation was greater in people with high HIV RNA levels, higher body mass index (BMI), heavy alcohol use, and prolonged use of stavudine (d4T; Zerit) or zidovudine (AZT; Retrovir).

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Meta-analysis Shows Concurrent Hepatitis B Increases All-cause Mortality in People with HIV

HIV positive people coinfected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) have a higher rate of all-cause death than people with HIV alone, according to a report in the June 15, 2009 issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases. These results, the study authors stated, suggest that HIV-HBV coinfected individuals may especially benefit from efforts to minimize liver damage.

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