HCV-Infection in HIV-Infected and Non-Infected People with Hemophilia — A Retrospective Study: Medical Aspects

Conclusion

Despite mortality from HIV in patients with hemophilia is keeping on decreasing, HIV still remains an important factor as an HIV/HCV co-infection seems to increase risk of progression of liver disease to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma [1]. As HIV+/HCV+ patients show higher mean ALT-levels than HIV-/HCV-and an accompanying HIV-ART even seems to booster this effect, there are evident arguments for an early onset of an effective HCV-therapy in spite of still limited treatment possibilities and low success rates especially in HIV/HCV co-infected patients [2, 4]. Furthermore our findings show that there are evident medical and psychosocial parameters triggering the progression of HIV and influencing survival rates. More quality of life research should be initiated to be able identifying those patients with a bad prognosis more early in future. The basis for quality of life research are validated instruments.