Acute hepatitis C in HIV-positive individuals.

Abstract

Due to the asymptomatic nature of acute hepatitis C it can be difficult to diagnose in the early stage of infection, but with the higher treatment success rates and reduced treatment duration at this stage, it is imperative that diagnoses are made. Therefore, physicians should routinely screen at-risk individuals and investigate abnormal liver function tests. Serum HCV RNA should be considered in any HCV-antibody-negative individual in whom acute HCV is clinically suspected, or annually in those high-risk individuals with previous infection. Acute hepatitis C transmission may be facilitated by the presence of an erosive genital lesion, such as syphilis or lymphogranuloma venereum, and thus testing at this time should be encouraged. Reinfection with HCV does occur and patients need to be informed of the sexual and other high-risk behaviors that put them at risk of reinfection. Public awareness of the possibility of HCV infection, and subsequent reinfection, in high-risk groups should be increased. The question of the optimal treatment regimen is still disputed. However, ongoing trials and the proposed randomized controlled trial from the European AIDS Treatment Network should answer many of our questions. In the meantime, units faced with HIV/acute hepatitis C coinfection should follow recommendations from the HCV-HIV International Panel.