When CD4 counts drop below 200 a person is susceptible to a variety of opportunistic infections and people with HIV will be given medications to treat or prevent these infections. Both are RNA viruses and both have similar transmission routes , i.e. transfusion and intravenous route . HIV left untreated can lead to serious complications that can lead to death. HCV is a slowly progressive disease that may take decades before serious damage occurs. People infected with HIV and HCV may have more rapid progression of their disease.
Future treatments hold even greater promise.
HIV medications can be hard on the liver and some have the potential to be liver toxic. Most people with HCV can tolerate HIV medications as long as they are followed closely for potential liver toxicity . Dose reductions and c Dose reductions and c hange in HCV medications may be needed, but most people can be successfully treated. Identifying coinfected individuals from a HCV antibody test can be difficult if HIV has severely compromised the immune system. Hepatitis C antibody is sufficient if CD4 count is over 200.