Please Note: Due to volume considerations, not all questions can be answered. Questions most likely to be answered will be those of general interest to a broad group of visitors to this forum. Questions pertaining to a specific case; requests for diagnosis, medical advice, or second opinion; or requests for opinions about untested alternative therapies will generally not be answered.
The participation of Dr. McGovern in this
Forum is made possible in part by an independent educational grant
from Roche Laboratories.
Ask the Experts about Hepatitis and HIV Coinfection
i want friest to thank you very much for your help and your advices to me . i hope you remember me i wrote to you since one year telling you that i have 3 virus. HIV&C&B . my V.L was not detected and my CD4 was 915 so that i do not take any med for HIV.i began C&B treatment . big interferon 100 for 48 weekes and ribavirin 400 twice daiely for virus C.and zeffix 100 mg one daily. now after 48 weeks my p.c.r is negative(zero) for C and negative (zero) for Band also my HBeAg is negativ. now i have to thank you and want ask you what should i do for C&B&HIV?
Advertisement
Response from Dr. McGovern
It is great news to hear about your viral suppression for both hep B and C. However, I am concerned that you were taking Zeffix (lamivudine) in the absence an HIV regimen since lamivudine also has HIV activity. Taking lamivudine by itself may have led to HIV drug resistance.
The latest HIV guidelines suggest that earlier therapy for HIV may be considered in patients with chronic viral hepatitis on a case by case basis. You will want to discuss this with an HIV expert to see if you should start triple therapy for HIV now. This will depend on many factors such as whether you have been "cured" of your hepatitis C or not (off treatment) and whether you have seroconverted from E antigen positive to E antibody positive status.
I would also get resistance testing for lamivudine to know if you have HIV resistance. You may not have developed resistance if you were on lamivudine and interferon at the same time since interferon may have also suppressed your HIV infection as well. You are much less likely to develop HIV resistance in the setting of complete viral suppression.
So in summary, your news on complete suppression of B and C is great - please see an HIV expert who can further advise you about your next steps in regard to your HIV infection. Since your T cells are so high, I would be very influenced by the final outcomes of your viral infections and your HIV viral load in terms of your overall management. At the very least get HIV drug resistance testing if you have any detectable virus.
Want to read more questions and answers on this subject? Our experts have answered many similar questions!
Please remember that this forum is designed for educational purposes only, and experts are not engaged through this
forum in rendering legal or medical advice or professional services. Experts appearing on this page are independent and are solely responsible
for editing and fact-checking their material. Neither The Body nor any sponsor is the publisher or speaker of posted visitors' questions or the experts' material.
Questions and messages posted to this forum are not statements of advice, opinion, or information of The Body, Body Health Resources Corporation or any sponsor of this
forum. While neither The Body nor Body Health Resources Corporation regularly reviews posted content, we reserve the right to delete, move, or
edit postings if we deem it appropriate under the circumstances. Visitors submitting questions remain solely responsible for the content of their
messages.
Information provided by experts is general only and should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or a disease, or relied upon as
legal or other professional advice. This information is not a substitute for professional advice or care. If you have or suspect you may have a
health or legal problem, you should consult your own health care provider or your attorney.
E-Mail
Glossary
Response from Dr. McGovern
