Treatment of Hepatitis C if You Have HIV/AIDS

HIV Treatment for People Who Are Also Infected with HCV

People infected with HIV and HCV face some special treatment issues. Basically, significant liver damage makes it harder to tolerate HIV drugs. At the same time, some HIV drugs can cause liver issues. Therefore, it is important for you and your provider to monitor your liver enzymes closely when taking either or both treatments.

The HIV treatment guidelines published by the US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) recommend that antiretroviral therapy for HIV be given to most co-infected people, regardless of their CD4 count. The DHHS suggests that the benefits of HIV drugs outweigh concerns about potential damage to the liver caused by the drugs.

Research studies on the new HCV protease inhibitors are still ongoing for people co-infected with HIV and HCV, and the FDA has not yet approved the use of Incivek or Victrelis for this group. However, early research results for both Incivek and Victrelis are promising. Small studies have shown that HIV/HCV co-infected people taking either Incivek or Victrelis combined with pegylated interferon and ribavirin have better cure rates than those taking pegylated interferon and ribavirin alone.

These same studies have also shown significant drug interactions between Victrelis or Incivek and some HIV drugs. Recent research has shown that Victrelis interacts with Norvir (ritonavir)-boosted protease inhibitors (boosted PIs). Because Victrelis and Norvir-boosted protease inhibitors are processed by the body in the same way, the two types of drugs can interact, or get in the way of one another. As a result, the HIV drugs may be less effective. The DHHS suggests that Victrelis not be used with boosted PIs; it adds that Victrelis should not be used with Sustiva (efavirenz).

Research on Incivek suggests that it can be given with Norvir-boosted Reyataz (atazanavir), unlike Victrelis. Incivek can also be given with Sustiva, but should be given at an increased dose when both are taken at the same time. Either Victrelis or Incivek can be given with Isentress (raltegravir).

If you are co-infected, it is important for you to work closely with your health care providers to monitor the status of your liver as well as your HIV and HCV disease. There may be certain drugs you need to avoid taking together or taking at all, and it may be more beneficial to treat just one disease at a time.

How Effective Is Treatment?

Unlike HIV, successful treatment can cure HCV. Treatment success is measured in different ways. End-of-treatment virological response means HCV is undetectable in the blood at the end of treatment. Sustained virological response, or SVR, means HCV is still undetectable six months after the end of treatment. After this, the virus rarely comes back, and people are considered cured.

For HIV-negative people, combination treatment with pegylated interferon plus ribavirin cures HCV in about 80 percent of those with genotype 2 or 3, and about 45 percent of those with genotype 1. HCV treatment is less effective for co-infected people. SVR rates are about 20-30 percent with genotype 1 and 45-75 percent with genotypes 2 or 3. The combination of pegylated interferon plus ribavirin works better than an older form of interferon (known as standard or conventional interferon), or interferon used without ribavirin (monotherapy). Ribavirin seems to help prevent relapse after treatment is completed, but it is not effective without interferon.

People receiving HCV treatment should have their liver function tests and HCV viral load levels monitored regularly, since this can show how well treatment is working. If your HCV level has not started to drop after 12 weeks of treatment, it is unlikely that the treatment is working, and your health care provider will probably advise you to stop taking the drugs.

Sometimes a second round of treatment can lead to a cure even if the first attempt was unsuccessful. This is especially true if the first attempt used the older form of interferon or interferon without ribavirin. Different types of interferon and new drugs that directly attack HCV are currently in clinical trials.

Side Effects of Treatment

Like most medications, the drugs used to treat HCV can cause side effects. The most common side effects of pegylated interferon include:

• Flu-like symptoms (fever, nausea, muscle aches)
• Depression
• Anxiety or irritability
• Low white blood cell count (neutropenia)

While women tend to do better on HCV therapy than men, studies show that depression is more likely to affect women taking interferon. It is very important to speak to your health care provider about any side effects you are experiencing so he or she can help you manage them properly.

The most serious side effect of ribavirin is anemia, or a reduced number of red blood cells that carry oxygen throughout the body. This side effect can often be managed using a drug called Procrit or Epogen (erythropoietin or EPO).

Ribavirin can also cause serious birth defects. Do not take ribavirin if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, and stop taking ribavirin at least six months before becoming pregnant. Women and their male partners must use effective birth control while taking ribavirin. Many providers will recommend that women use two forms of birth control to prevent pregnancy while taking ribavirin. Additionally, men taking ribavirin who have female partners are encouraged to use two forms of birth control since sperm exposed to ribavirin can cause birth defects.

Both of the new drugs -- Incivek and Victrelis -- commonly cause fatigue and nausea. Many people who took Incivek in research studies also reported having a rash. For most people, the rash was mild and did not lead them to stop taking Incivek. However, in a very few cases, the rashes were severe and life-threatening due to an immune reaction known as Stevens Johnson Syndrome.

Incivek and Victrelis can also cause anemia. This is especially concerning because ribavirin can also cause anemia and because anemia is already a common problem among HIV+ people.

While treatment for HCV can be challenging, it may help to know in advance what side effects to expect. Various medications can help manage these side effects. Peer support groups can also help you get through treatment. And remember, unlike HIV therapy, HCV treatment usually lasts no more than 6 to 18 months.

Which to Treat First?

There is some debate about whether to start HIV or HCV treatment first. Effective HIV treatment may reduce the risk of liver damage, so you may be less likely to need HCV treatment. On the other hand, treating HCV first seems to make it easier to tolerate drugs for HIV. HCV treatment does not work well for co-infected people with CD4 cell counts below 200 and is not recommended.

The decision about which to treat first depends on many individual factors, including HIV viral load, CD4 cell count, and amount of existing liver damage. For this reason, it is important to see a health care provider familiar with both diseases whenever possible.

Taking Care of Yourself

In addition to medical treatment, there are steps you can take to keep your liver healthy, including:

• Eating a healthy diet
• Avoiding alcohol and street drugs
• Getting regular physical activity
• Getting vaccinated against hepatitis A and hepatitis B

Some herbs may help your liver, but others can cause serious liver damage. Be sure to tell your health care provider about any products you are taking, including over-the-counter or prescription medications, street drugs, herbal remedies, or nutritional supplements.