Hepatitis C virus infection as an opportunistic disease in persons infected with human immunodeficiency virus

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an RNA virus of the Flaviviridae family and is a major cause of chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Owing to shared routes of transmission, HCV and human immunodeficiency vir us (HIV) coinfection are common, affecting approximately one-third of all H IV-infected persons in the United States. In addition, HIV coinfection is a ssociated with higher HCV RNA level and a more rapid progression of HCV-rel ated liver disease, which leads to an increased risk of cirrhosis, HCV infe ction may also impact the course and management of HIV disease, particularl y by increasing the risk of antiretroviral drug-induced hepatotoxicity. Thu s, chronic HCV infection acts as an opportunistic disease in HIV-infected p ersons, because the incidence of infection is increased and the natural his tory of HCV infection is accelerated in coinfected persons. Strategies to p revent primary HCV infection and to modify the progression of HCV-related l iver disease are urgently needed for HIV-HCV-coinfected individuals.