AASLD 2014: Sustained Response to HCV Treatment Reduces Mortality, Liver Cancer, Liver Transplants

People who achieve sustained virological response (SVR) when treated with interferon-based therapy for hepatitis C have a lower risk of death, are less likely to develop liver cancer, and need fewer liver transplants than those who were treated but not cured, according to results from a meta-analysis of more than 34,000 patients presented at the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) Liver Meeting this week in Boston.

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Coverage of IDWeek 2014

HIVandHepatitis.com coverage of IDWeek 2014, October 8-12, in Philadelphia.

Conference highlights include the HIV cascade of care, experimental antiretroviral therapies, interferon-free hepatitis C treatment, and news about other infectious diseases including Ebola virus and enterovirus D68.

Full listing of coverage by topic

IDWeek 2014 website

10/17/14

AASLD 2014: Sofosbuvir/Ledipasvir Cures Nearly All Genotype 1 HIV/HCV Coinfected Patients

All but 1 participant treated with a coformulation of sofosbuvir and ledipasvir (Harvoni) achieved sustained virological response at 12 weeks post-treatment in a study looking at traditionally hard-to-treat HIV/HCV coinfected patients, researchers reported at the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) Liver Meeting this week in Boston.

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HCV Sexual Transmission: HIV Negative May Be at Risk, More Awareness and Testing Needed

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is known to be sexually transmitted among HIV positive men who have sex with men, but HIV negative men may be at risk as well, according to recent reports. Other recent studies have looked at awareness of HCV sexual transmission and screening practices, suggesting that improvement is needed in both areas.

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IDWeek 2014: Study Shows HIV/HCV Coinfected Women Have Lower Bone Density

ART-treated women with HIV/HCV coinfection have greater deficits in some structural bone parameters compared to women with HIV only, HCV only, or neither virus, according to the results of a cross-sectional study presented at IDWeek 2014 last week in Philadelphia. Among women with HCV, bone loss was most profound in those with stage 3-4 liver fibrosis or cirrhosis, which adversely effects bone health.

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Community Leaders, HIV Doctors Oppose Hepatitis C Treatment Barriers

A coalition of hepatitis C advocacy organizations and medical providers has issued an open letter to the Secretary of Health and Human Services calling for an end to restrictions on access to hepatitis C treatment by private insurers and public payers seeking to avoid the cost of newly approved direct-acting antivirals. HIV medical providers also called for reducing barriers to treatment, including restrictions on which medical specialists may treat people with hepatitis C.

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IDWeek 2014: HIV/HCV Coinfected People Do Not Have Poorer CD4 Cell Recovery

Among HIV positive people on suppressive antiretroviral therapy (ART), hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfection was not associated with significantly lower CD4 T-cell or B-cell gains, according to study findings presented at IDWeek 2014 last week in Philadelphia.

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Coverage of the 2014 Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy

HIVandHepatitis.com coverage of the 54th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC 2014), September 5-9, in Washington, DC.

Conference highlights include experimental antiretroviral therapies for HIV, interferon-free treatment for hepatitis C, and news about other infectious diseases including tuberculosis, HPV, influenza, and Ebola virus.

Full listing of coverage by topic

ICAAC 2014 website

9/8/14