Question
Will chronic hepatitis C co-infection with HIV reduce my life expectancy?
9 February 2010. Related: All topics, Complications and coinfections, Living with HIV long-term.
I have been infected with HIV and hepatitis C for 15 years and was infected through sharing needles.
My last Fibroscan showed a 7.5 result for my liver, my CD4 count is 279 and I have been on HAART for nearly 3 years. I am not on any medication for hepatitis C.
Thanks in advance for any advice you can give
Answer
Thank you for your question.
Generally co-infection between HIV and HCV (Hepatitis C Virus) complicates each disease. HIV can cause HCV to progress more quickly. Similarly co-infection with HCV can cause HIV positive people to respond to their medication less well causing lower CD4 counts.
It would be useful to know your CD4 count when you started treatment but you are doing well on treatment and this is a good thing as it means that you HIV is controlled..
It is important that you have a doctor who specialises in coinfection.
The Fibroscan test measures the elasticity or stiffness of the liver to show progression of HCV. A Fibroscan test of 7.5 indicates a higher likelihood of fibrosis, but interpretation of the result by your expert are important.
Deciding if and when to use HCV treatment is also very individual.
The best thing you can do to help your liver is to cut out alcohol. Other things include drinking plenty of water, eating fewer fatty or salty food and eating more fresh fruit, vegetables and high-fibre foods. The longer your liver stays healthy the longer you stay healthy.
For more information follow this link to the i-Base guide to HCV coinfection.
https://i-base.info/guides/hepc
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