Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Introduction
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HIV infection frequently co-occur due to shared transmission routes. Co-infection is associated with higher HCV viral load (VL), but less is known about the effect of HCV infection on HIV VL and risk of onward transmission.Methods
We undertook a systematic review comparing 1) HIV VL among ART-naïve, HCV co-infected individuals versus HIV mono-infected individuals and 2) HIV VL among treated versus untreated HCV co-infected individuals. We performed a random-effects meta-analysis and quantified heterogeneity using the I(2) statistic. We followed Cochrane Collaboration guidelines in conducting our review and PRISMA guidelines in reporting results.Results and discussion
We screened 3925 articles and identified 17 relevant publications. A meta-analysis found no evidence of increased HIV VL associated with HCV co-infection or between HIV VL and HCV treatment with pegylated interferon-alpha-2a/b and ribavirin.Conclusions
This finding is in contrast to the substantial increases in HIV VL observed with several other systemic infections. It presents opportunities to elucidate the biological pathways that underpin epidemiological synergy in HIV co-infections and may enable prediction of which co-infections are most important to epidemic control.
SUBMITTER: Petersdorf N
PROVIDER: S-EPMC5030209 | biostudies-literature | 2016
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Petersdorf Nicholas N Ross Jennifer M JM Weiss Helen A HA Barnabas Ruanne V RV Wasserheit Judith N JN
Journal of the International AIDS Society 20160919 1
<h4>Introduction</h4>Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HIV infection frequently co-occur due to shared transmission routes. Co-infection is associated with higher HCV viral load (VL), but less is known about the effect of HCV infection on HIV VL and risk of onward transmission.<h4>Methods</h4>We undertook a systematic review comparing 1) HIV VL among ART-naïve, HCV co-infected individuals versus HIV mono-infected individuals and 2) HIV VL among treated versus untreated HCV co-infected individuals. We ...[more]