Update on HIV and Hepatitis Virus Coinfection: The South American Perspective

Abstract

Liver disease related to hepatitis B (HBV) or hepatitis C (HCV) infections among HIV infected patient population are currently a major cause of morbidity and mortality. They are extremely frequent, intravenous drug use being the most commonly documented route of transmission despite this practice is not a major concern in South America. Sexual transmission route is more prevalent in HBV coinfected patients. In South America, the most frequent HCV genotype identified in HIV patients is genotype 1a; genotypes A and F being the most prevalent among the HBV population. Even though effective therapy based on tenofovir regimens for HBV/HIV coinfected patients have been available for some years now, treatment recommendations still vary from country to country. Although novel, oral, more efficient drugs are being developed for HCV/HIV treatment, these options are very expensive and not yet available worldwide. This is especially so in regions such as South America. This review will discuss epidemiology, diagnosis and management of HBV and HCV coinfection in HIV infected patients with special focus in South America.