HIV, HCV and SARS-CoV-2: Friends or foes? A case report

Abstract

Data about co-infection of severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), HIV, and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are still scarce. We describe a patient hospitalized for sore throat, fatigue, and myalgia with a personal history of HIV and occult HBV infection. His antiretroviral therapy included bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide. The nasopharyngeal swab was positive for SARS-CoV-2 and laboratory testing showed acute HCV. Antiretroviral therapy was continued, but no specific therapy for SARS-CoV-2 was started. After 4 weeks, the nasopharyngeal swab resulted negative for SARS-CoV-2 and biochemical tests revealed undetectable HCV RNA with normalization of transaminases. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of acute HCV in a patient with HIV and SARS-CoV-2 co-infection.