Abstract
Coinfection with an apparently harmless virus could explain why HIV infection progresses more slowly in some people than in others. Recent clinical trials and cell culture studies support earlier findings suggesting that GBV-C (also known as hepatitis G) retards the progression of HIV infection. Following a 12-year study, researchers from the University of Iowa College of Medicine and the Iowa City Veterans Affairs Medical Center, report that patients infected with HIV alone were 3.68 times more likely to die than those who were also infected with GBV-C. Like HIV, GBV-C infects T helper cells, and in in vitro coinfection, HIV production was reduced by 30–40%. Although the results are promising, the researchers are warning HIV patients not to infect themselves with GBV-C intentionally; the long-term effects of GBV-C infection are unknown. AVhttp://www.cbc.ca/cgi-bin/templates/view.cgi?category=Canada&story=/news/2001/09/06/hiv_hepg010906
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
