Chronic hepatitis C in HIV-infected patients: those who more need therapy are those who respond less.

One third of HIV-infected individuals worldwide suffer from chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Two main reasons justify considering HCV therapy as a priority in HIV-coinfected patients. First, these patients have more rapid liver disease progression, and second, they have a higher risk of developing hepatotoxicity following the initiation of antiretroviral therapy.

Predictors of liver fibrosis in HIV-infected patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection: assessment using transient elastometry and the role of HCV genotype 3.

Background: Liver fibrosis is accelerated in patients coinfected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The reasons for this faster liver disease progression are unclear, although higher plasma HCV RNA levels and distinct HCV genotype distribution in this population, compared with in HCV-monoinfected subjects, could play a role.

Methods: Liver fibrosis was assessed using elastometry in all consecutive HIV-infected patients with chronic hepatitis C who attended our institution (Hospital Carlos III, Madrid) during the past 12 months.

Evaluation of procalcitonin as a marker of infection in a nonselected sample of febrile hospitalized patients.

The level of procalcitonin is undetectable in healthy individuals and slightly increased in viral infections and noninfectious inflammatory responses. It has been described to be notably increased in bacterial, parasitic, or fungal infections. Procalcitonin has been reported to be a reliable marker for severe bacterial infections, although it has mainly been studied in specific entities or in selected groups of patients.