HIV and hepatitis C co-infection is a growing issue among those living in Canada. Approximately one third of people in Canada living with HIV are also infected with hepatitis C, and evidence suggests that number is even higher among British Columbians. But how does co-infection affect one’s ability to cope with hepatitis C?
HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. It is a virus which targets your body’s CD4 cells, a type of white blood cell that identifies infection in your body. It uses these cells to replicate, making copies which attack other CD4 cells. The more cells the virus destroys, the less equipped your body is to fight off infection. When your CD4 cells become so low that you become sick with one or more of an identified group of illnesses known as ‘opportunistic infections’ (or ‘AIDS-defining illnesses’), you are said to have AIDS which stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. HIV is passed through infected blood, semen, vaginal secretions, or breast milk gaining entrance to your bloodstream. This can occur during unprotected sex, body art using un-sterile equipment, or through sharing equipment used for injecting, snorting, or smoking drugs. There are activities through which the virus can be passed, as well.
HIV can negatively affect in many ways your body’s ability to deal with hepatitis C. For instance, whereas people who are mono-infected with hepatitis C (meaning that is the only blood-borne virus they have) have a 10-20% chance of progressing to end-stage liver disease in 25-30 years, people who are co-infected with HIV have a 20-30% chance of progressing to end-stage liver disease in 7-10 years – that’s 2-3 times the rate! HIV can also affect your chances of successfully treating your hepatitis C infection. Where as mono-infected people can expect about a 50% success rate with genotype 1, 90% with genotype 2, and 80% with genotype 3, people who are co-infected with HIV can expect a 25% success rate for genotype 1 and 50% for types 2 and 3.
It can be difficult to determine which virus should be treated first for people who are co-infected. The medications used to manage HIV can be very toxic to the liver, and so sometimes it is best to treat the hepatitis C first so that your liver has a chance at being in better condition to deal with the HIV medications. This should only be done, however, if your CD4 counts are high enough and your HIV viral load is low enough. Leaving advanced HIV untreated for 6-12 months may have some very serious consequences. That being said, hepatitis C co-infection is also shown to slow down the rate of increase of CD4 counts during HIV treatment.
People who are co-infected with HIV and hepatitis C also face an increased risk of transmitting hepatitis C to other people through risk activities. Because HIV targets your immune system, your body’s ability to fight the hepatitis C virus is compromised, which often results in having higher concentrations of the virus in your blood. The higher your viral load, the more infectious your blood is.
HIV and hepatitis C co-infection is a very problematic issue for those who find themselves to be in that situation. Knowing this, it is important for everybody living with hepatitis C to know what the risk factors are for HIV so that they can take measures to protect themselves.
By Sheila Kerr
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Council Happenings
The HCCBC is pleased to send two directors to the Pacific AIDS Network – Skills Building Conference February 25th – 28th, 2009. We will be represented by Council Secretary Alex Sherstobitoff and Council Director Tyler Cuddahy. http://pacificaidsnetwork.org/conferences/2009-skills-building-conference/
News
Pre-1986/Post-1990 Hepatitis C Settlement Agreement
Pre 1986/Post 1990 Hepatitis C Compensation Claims News:
Update #17 – February 5, 2009
As of January 16, 2009 the Administrator has received 9,098 claims from HCV class members and has approved or paid 5,235 (58%).
For the rest of the article go to:http://www.pre86post90settlement.ca/english/eng_home.htm Click on news
Links of Interest
This is CATIE’s new plain-language website containing up-to-date information on hepatitis C.
http://www.hepcinfo.ca/
CATIE’S new Hepatitis C Toolkit of Resource materials: http://www.hepcinfo.ca/toolkit_e.html
Our Council website contains resources to further assist people infected with and affected by Hepatitis C.
Please visit us at: http://www.bchepcouncil.ca
February 2009
February 2009 Newsletter
Co-Infection: What You Should Know
HIV and hepatitis C co-infection is a growing issue among those living in Canada. Approximately one third of people in Canada living with HIV are also infected with hepatitis C, and evidence suggests that number is even higher among British Columbians. But how does co-infection affect one’s ability to cope with hepatitis C?
HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. It is a virus which targets your body’s CD4 cells, a type of white blood cell that identifies infection in your body. It uses these cells to replicate, making copies which attack other CD4 cells. The more cells the virus destroys, the less equipped your body is to fight off infection. When your CD4 cells become so low that you become sick with one or more of an identified group of illnesses known as ‘opportunistic infections’ (or ‘AIDS-defining illnesses’), you are said to have AIDS which stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. HIV is passed through infected blood, semen, vaginal secretions, or breast milk gaining entrance to your bloodstream. This can occur during unprotected sex, body art using un-sterile equipment, or through sharing equipment used for injecting, snorting, or smoking drugs. There are activities through which the virus can be passed, as well.
HIV can negatively affect in many ways your body’s ability to deal with hepatitis C. For instance, whereas people who are mono-infected with hepatitis C (meaning that is the only blood-borne virus they have) have a 10-20% chance of progressing to end-stage liver disease in 25-30 years, people who are co-infected with HIV have a 20-30% chance of progressing to end-stage liver disease in 7-10 years – that’s 2-3 times the rate! HIV can also affect your chances of successfully treating your hepatitis C infection. Where as mono-infected people can expect about a 50% success rate with genotype 1, 90% with genotype 2, and 80% with genotype 3, people who are co-infected with HIV can expect a 25% success rate for genotype 1 and 50% for types 2 and 3.
It can be difficult to determine which virus should be treated first for people who are co-infected. The medications used to manage HIV can be very toxic to the liver, and so sometimes it is best to treat the hepatitis C first so that your liver has a chance at being in better condition to deal with the HIV medications. This should only be done, however, if your CD4 counts are high enough and your HIV viral load is low enough. Leaving advanced HIV untreated for 6-12 months may have some very serious consequences. That being said, hepatitis C co-infection is also shown to slow down the rate of increase of CD4 counts during HIV treatment.
People who are co-infected with HIV and hepatitis C also face an increased risk of transmitting hepatitis C to other people through risk activities. Because HIV targets your immune system, your body’s ability to fight the hepatitis C virus is compromised, which often results in having higher concentrations of the virus in your blood. The higher your viral load, the more infectious your blood is.
HIV and hepatitis C co-infection is a very problematic issue for those who find themselves to be in that situation. Knowing this, it is important for everybody living with hepatitis C to know what the risk factors are for HIV so that they can take measures to protect themselves.
By Sheila Kerr
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Council Happenings
The HCCBC is pleased to send two directors to the Pacific AIDS Network – Skills Building Conference February 25th – 28th, 2009. We will be represented by Council Secretary Alex Sherstobitoff and Council Director Tyler Cuddahy. http://pacificaidsnetwork.org/conferences/2009-skills-building-conference/
News
Pre-1986/Post-1990 Hepatitis C Settlement Agreement
Pre 1986/Post 1990 Hepatitis C Compensation Claims News:
Update #17 – February 5, 2009
As of January 16, 2009 the Administrator has received 9,098 claims from HCV class members and has approved or paid 5,235 (58%).
For the rest of the article go to:http://www.pre86post90settlement.ca/english/eng_home.htm Click on news
Links of Interest
This is CATIE’s new plain-language website containing up-to-date information on hepatitis C.
http://www.hepcinfo.ca/
CATIE’S new Hepatitis C Toolkit of Resource materials: http://www.hepcinfo.ca/toolkit_e.html
Our Council website contains resources to further assist people infected with and affected by Hepatitis C.
Please visit us at: http://www.bchepcouncil.ca
Wendy Mackay
Co-chair, HCCBC