Breaking down the barriers to hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment among individuals with HCV/HIV coinfection: action required at the system, provider, and patient levels

J Infect Dis. 2013 Mar;207 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):S19-25. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jis928.

Abstract

The majority of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) coinfection occurs among persons who inject drugs. Rapid improvements in responses to HCV therapy have been observed, but liver-related morbidity rates remain high, given notoriously low uptake of HCV treatment. Advances in HCV therapy will have a limited impact on the burden of HCV-related disease at the population-level unless barriers to HCV education, screening, evaluation, and treatment are addressed and treatment uptake increases. This review will outline barriers to HCV care in HCV/HIV coinfection, with a particular emphasis on persons who inject drugs, proposing strategies to enhance HCV treatment uptake and outcomes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Coinfection / diagnosis
  • Coinfection / drug therapy*
  • Coinfection / prevention & control
  • HIV Infections / complications*
  • HIV Infections / diagnosis
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy*
  • HIV Infections / prevention & control
  • Hepatitis C / complications*
  • Hepatitis C / diagnosis
  • Hepatitis C / drug therapy*
  • Hepatitis C / prevention & control
  • Humans
  • Infection Control / methods
  • Substance Abuse, Intravenous / complications

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents