Introduction to the May 2007 edition

Introduction

Welcome to the first i-Base treatment guide for people living with HIV and hepatitis C (HCV).

Any diagnosis can be difficult and having two infections can be more stressful. We hope that the information here helps you feel more in control of some of the treatment related choices so that you can focus on other things you want to do in life.

Because some of the ways that you can catch both HIV and hepatitis viruses are similar, coinfection is not unusual.

In some countries, coinfection with HIV and hepatitis C is more common than just having HIV alone.

This booklet mainly focuses on hepatitis C, and specifically the difference for HIV-positive people compared to just having either virus on it's own. Other hepatitis viruses (A, B, D, E, etc.) are very different from HCV and are covered much more briefly.

Personal accounts

Read contributor's personal stories and add your own.

People with direct experience of HIV, hepatitis C or coinfection, have written much of this guide. It is written with a positive outlook for management and treatment. Some people have been living with HCV for over 20 years and have not chosen HCV treatment. Others were infected recently. Some of them have been HIV-positive for many years, and have chosen very early HCV treatment.

This range of experience will help to emphasise that an individual approach to your own healthcare is essential.

Web edition contains extra information

Web-only content list.

The web version of this guide includes more detailed information on some aspects of hepatitis that we didn't include in the print version.

We've also included more detailed references and referrals to other sources of information and support.

Controversial aspects of hepatitis C

Controversial aspects of hepatitis C treatment and care in detail.

An overview of aspects of care that are currently controversial is included:

Sexual transmission of HCV (especially for HIV-positive gay men)
Whether light-to-moderate alcohol intake is safe
Use of liver biopsy
Use of HCV treatment in people who still drink alcohol
Access to HCV treatment for injecting drug users,
How long to treat genotype 2 and 3
Use of maintenance treatment in people who don't get a full treatment response
Earlier access to new HCV drugs in development for HIV-positive people.

Understanding of these issues is likely to change as new research becomes available.

Please check for up-dates to this edition, especially if reading this after May 2008.

Contents. Introduction First questions.

This is the web edition of the i-Base guide Hepatitis C for people living with HIV: testing, coinfection, treatment and support. This guide is available in UK clinics. You can order free printed copies or download a PDF version (657 Kb).

Information on this website is provided as a guide only. All treatment decisions should be taken in consultation with your doctor or other healthcare professional. Authors and credits. Full section index. Glossary.