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Formulations of antiretroviral therapy
(ART) that also are effective against hepatitis B protect HIV-infected patients
from primary hepatitis B infections, according to a study led by Kees Brinkman
at Amsterdam’s Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis. Brinkman’s team undertook the
retrospective study because the rate of new hepatitis B infections in
Amsterdam’s largest HIV clinic had dropped to “very low” levels; they suspected
ART with “dual” activity against HIV and hepatitis B might have reduced new
hepatitis B infections. ART combinations effective against both HIV and
hepatitis B include tenofovir (Viread, also in Truvada, Atripla, Complera, and
Stribild), 3TC (lamivudine, Epivir), and FTC (emtricitabine, Emtriva).
The study included nearly 3,000
clinic patients, 2,280 of whom were men who have sex with men. At baseline, 51
percent were HIV- and hepatitis B-coinfected, 13 percent had been vaccinated
for hepatitis B, and 30 percent were still susceptible to hepatitis B. Second
samples of the participants who were hepatitis B-susceptible indicated that 530
remained hepatitis B-susceptible, 171 had been vaccinated for hepatitis B, and
35 patients had new hepatitis B infections. Researchers zeroed in on 350
HIV-infected patients who were not yet infected with hepatitis B, and for whom
subsequent samples were available, to determine whether their hepatitis B
status had changed.
Brinkman reported that HIV-infected
people who did not receive dually active ART became infected with hepatitis B
much sooner than people taking ART that also acts against hepatitis B. ART
containing tenofovir was the combination most effective in preventing hepatitis
B. Brinkman presented the study results during the 20th Conference on
Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections.
A webcast of the presentation,
“Protective Effect of Hepatitis B Virus-active cART Against Primary Hepatitis B
Virus Infection,” was published online by the 20th Conference on
Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections at http://webcasts.retroconference.org/console/player/19410?mediaType=podiumVideo.
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.
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