Update on hepatitis C virus and HIV coinfection

Abstract

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has historically been difficult to treat in the HIV-infected population, owing to generally poor responses to interferon-based therapies. The recent rapid development of directly acting antiviral agents (DAAs) against HCV has the potential to revolutionize treatment of this infection in the HIV population by improving tolerability and outcome, and, ultimately, reducing the significant burden of liver-related morbidity and mortality in this population. Clinical trials to address the safety and efficacy of novel DAAs in the HCV/HIV coinfected population are ongoing, and show much promise. The rapidity of current drug discovery in the field of HCV is both impressive and daunting for clinicians who will have to master these drugs. Going forward, the inclusion of individuals from this large and growing patient population in clinical trials will be of paramount importance.