CDC H IV/A IDS Fact Sheet

Coinfection with

HIV and Hepatitis C

Virus

1-800-CDC-INFO (232-4636)

In English, en Español

24 Hours/Day

cdcinfo@cdc.gov

http://www.cdc.gov/hiv 

November 2005

Overview

Persons with HIV, especially injection drug 

users, may also be infected with the hepatitis C 

virus (HCV).

HCV infection is more serious in persons with 

HIV.

Many persons with HCV don’t have any 

symptoms.

HCV infection can be treated Injecting drugs is 

one of the main ways people become infected with 

HIV. It is also the main way of becoming infected 

with the hepatitis C virus (HCV). In fact, 50%-

90% of HIV-infected injection drug users are also 

infected with hepatitis C.

HCV infection is more serious in HIV-infected 

persons.* It leads to liver damage more quickly. 

Coinfection with HCV may also affect the 

treatment of HIV infection. Therefore, it’s 

important for HIV-infected persons to know 

whether they are also infected with HCV and, if 

they aren’t, to take steps to prevent infection.

Many people with hepatitis C don’t have any 

symptoms of the disease. So your doctor or other 

health care provider will have to test your blood to 

check for the virus. If you test positive, he or she 

may also do a liver biopsy to determine the amount 

of damage to your liver.

Chronic† hepatitis C can be treated successfully, 

even in HIV-infected persons. Treatment for 

chronic hepatitis C is with a single drug or 

•

•

•

combination of two drugs. Treatment will usually 

take 6-12 months. You should drink little or no 

alcohol during treatment and may be advised not 

to have alcohol ever again. Vaccination against 

hepatitis A and hepatitis B is also recommended.

*It is not known yet whether coinfection with HCV makes HIV disease 

progress faster. 

†”Chronic” means having the disease for a long time. 

Other Ways of Becoming 

Infected with HCV 

There are other ways of becoming infected with 

HCV. Persons with hemophilia who received 

clotting factor concentrates before 1987 commonly 

have HCV infection. Becoming infected through 

sexual contact is possible, but the risk is much 

lower than the risk for HIV. Mothers can pass the 

infection to their newborn babies, but here too the 

risk is less than that for HIV. 

How to Prevent HCV Infection 

The best way to prevent infection with HCV is to 

stop injecting drugs or never to start. Substance 

abuse programs may help. If you continue to inject 

drugs, always use new, sterile syringes and never 

reuse or share syringes, needles, water or drug 

preparation equipment. Do not share toothbrushes, 

razors and other items that might be contaminated 

with blood. Tattooing or body piercing may also 

put you at increased risk for infection with any 

bloodborne pathogen if dirty needles or other 

instruments are used. Practice safer sex.
Co infect ion w ith H IV and Hepat it is C V irus



Liver Biopsy

During a liver biopsy, a tiny piece of your liver 

is removed through a needle. The tiny piece (or 

specimen) is then checked for amount of liver 

damage.

Treating HCV Infection

Alpha interferon or pegylated interferon alone, or 

one of these in combination with ribavirin are the 

drugs given to patients with chronic hepatitis C 

who are at greatest risk for progression to serious 

disease. Treatment is not always successful, but 

even HIV-infected patients may benefit from 

treatment. Your doctor or other health care 

provider will need to make the final decision about 

if and when you should receive treatment.

For more information . . . 

CDC HIV/AIDS

http://www.cdc.gov/hiv

CDC HIV/AIDS resources

CDC Viral Hepatitis

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/index.htm

CDC viral hepatitis resources

CDC-INFO

1-800-232-4636

Information about personal risk and where to get an HIV test

CDC National HIV Testing Resources

http://www.hivtest.org

Location of HIV testing sites

CDC National Prevention Information 

Network (NPIN)

1-800-458-5231

http://www.cdcnpin.org

CDC resources, technical assistance, and publications

AIDSinfo

1-800-448-0440

http://www.aidsinfo.nih.gov

Resources on HIV/AIDS treatment and clinical trials