Undetectable HCV Viral Load Without Treatment — Monitoring Required

HCV controllers infected with HIV are at significant risk for recurrent HCV viremia, due to loss of HCV-specific immune responses.

Although most individuals with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection develop persistent viremia, a small proportion will establish long-term virologic control, thus avoiding progressive liver disease. Previous studies have suggested that spontaneous viral control depends on vigorous HCV-specific CD4-cell responses targeting multiple HCV antigens. However, CD4-cell depletion, the hallmark of HIV infection, may undermine the ability of the immune system to maintain HCV control.

To investigate this hypothesis, researchers studied 94 individuals with HCV infection, 60 of whom were HIV-coinfected. The T cell responses of HCV controllers with HIV coinfection were compared to the responses of three control groups: HIV-positive patients with HCV viremia…

Reviewing Author

Holly Rawizza, MD

Undetectable HCV Viral Load Without Treatment — Monitoring Required

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Reviewing Author