Estradiol and/or Ibandronate Therapy Ameliorates A Case Series Describing the Outcomes of Treatment in Co-infected Patients with HIV and Hepatitis C on the United States-Mexico Border

Abstract

According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-2010 (NHANES) and the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL), the prevalence of Hepatitis C in people of Hispanic descent is 1.5-2%. However, this percentage is estimated to increase as the Hispanic population continues to grow in the United States. Currently there is minimal information on Hepatitis C treatment outcomes in the Hispanic population and even less data in the HIV co-infected, Hispanic population. This study was done to see if there was any differences in the clinical features and treatment outcomes in a population where the predominant race was that of Hispanics. In this small study, we enrolled 36 patients to evaluate the demographics, efficacy of various direct acting anti-Hepatitis C medications in HIV co-infected patients. All the patients were male with over 94% being of Hispanic origin. The average CD4 count at enrollment was 234 cell/cu mm and at the end of treatment was 256 cells/cu mm. A sustained viral response (SVR) or the definition of cure, was noted in all but one of the patients regardless of the medication used, underlying liver stage, or stage of HIV infection.