Hepatitis B Virus-HIV Coinfection: Forgotten but Not Gone

Abstract

Owing to shared routes of transmission and common risk factors, coinfection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and HIV is common. As AIDS-related opportunistic infections have declined with successful antiretroviral therapy (ART), liver-related mortality has emerged as the second leading cause of death among patients infected with HIV HIV infection negatively impacts the natural history of HBV, increasing the risks for cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and liver-related mortality. With the availability of effective antiviral therapy active against both HIV and HBV and simplified treatment algorithms, it has become easier than ever to treat coinfected patients. However, the issues of suboptimal response, incomplete viral suppression, adverse effects of long-term antiviral treatment, and potential hepatotoxicity of ART remain major challenges.

Keywords: Cirrhosis; HIV; HIV-HBV coinfection; hepatitis B.

Figure.

Global prevalence of HBV-HIV coinfection. According to the most recent World Health Organization estimates, at least 240 million people have chronic HBV infection, and approximately 35.3 million are currently living with HIV infection. Approximately 10% of them (~2-4 million) have HBV-HIV coinfection. HBV, hepatitis B virus; HBsAg, hepatitis B surface antigen.