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New Orleans and Baton Rouge are
among the 10 US cities that have the highest HIV rates, according to recent
surveillance reports. In 2006, 7 percent of Louisiana residents with hepatitis
C virus were co-infected with HIV. However, actual co-infection rates are
probably higher since HCV is usually underreported, said Dielda Robertson,
epidemiologist and adult viral hepatitis prevention coordinator at the state
Office of Public Health.
About 25 percent of people with HIV
in the United States also have HCV, according to CDC.
The combination is more difficult to
treat than other co-infections, said Dr. Nathan Shores, assistant professor of
clinical medicine and associate medical director of liver transplants at Tulane
Medical Center. Medications for HCV are more toxic than for other types of
hepatitis, and HCV-related liver transplants are generally not as successful as
hepatitis B-related transplants.
The co-infection also is difficult
to treat due to a shortage of hepatologists, Shores said. There are just five
certified hepatologists in Louisiana and about 200 in the nation. Many HIV
clinics do not test for HCV, and screening is often based on risk.
People taking HIV therapy who are at
risk for HCV should get tested as early as possible, Shores said. Early testing
and treatment can help people avoid medication toxicity problems associated
with treating late-stage disease, he said.
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is
dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and
empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV
virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
TOGETHER WE REMAIN STRONG!
