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Examination of the value of treatment of decompensated viral hepatitis patients by intentionally coinfecting them with an apathogenic IBDV and using the lessons learnt to seriously consider treating patients infected with HIV using the apathogenic hepatitis G virus.

Bakács T, Mehrishi JN

The Cambridge Chronic Hepatitis - AIDS New Treatment Strategy Development Initiative, Macfarlane Cl. 13, Impington, Cambridge CB4 9LZ, UK. brooklynbt@axelero.hu

Hepatitis virus infection persistent worldwide (approximately 600 m people) results in chronic hepatitis progressing to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in many (approximately 1 m deaths/year). The review examines the usefulness of treating chronic viral hepatitis, including decompensated patients, by intentional coinfection with an attenuated infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV; apathogenic in man, stable at pH 2, orally administered). Learning lessons from the IBDV studies, the case is made to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected patients (worldwide prevalence approximately 50 m people) by coinfecting with apathogenic hepatitis G virus (GBV-C). These ideas are reinforced by (i) eight out of ten studies reporting a beneficial effect of GBV-C viremia on HIV-related mortality or response to therapy and (ii) the recent reports of improved or delayed survival of HIV patients, naturally coinfected with an apathogenic virus.

Published 2 November 2004 in Vaccine, 23(1): 3-13.
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