Treatment of chronic hepatitis B or C in HIV-infected patients with dual viral hepatitis.

Dual chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections are recognized in 3%-5% of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals. More severe liver disease is seen in these patients. Viral interference may account for the fact that replication of one virus generally predominates over replication of the other. The impact that treatment of HBV or HCV infection has on this reciprocal inhibition is not well established. No evidence of reactivation of either HBV or HCV was seen when complete suppression of the other predominant virus was achieved with specific therapy in 21 subjects with HIV infection and dual HBV/HCV infections. This information has important pathogenic implications and may influence therapeutic decisions.