HBV Response to Tenofovir Similar in People With and Without HIV



— Christine M. Kukka, Project Manager, HBV Advocate


In this study, 90% of people infected with just hepatitis B or coinfected with both hepatitis and HIV achieved undetectable HBV DNA (viral load). It is an important study because it shows tenofovir is effective against both viruses. Coinfected people face high rates of liver damage when neither virus is controlled by an effective antiviral.

Nearly 90% of people with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in a Spanish group attained an undetectable HBV load after 96 weeks of tenofovir. Response rates did not differ between people with and without HIV infection.

Untreated HIV infection speeds progression of chronic HBV infection. But suppressing HBV replication slows liver damage. The antiretrovirals tenofovir, emtricitabine (FTC), and lamivudine (3TC) have anti-HBV activity. Because evidence on how HIV affects HBV response to tenofovir remains sparse, Spanish researchers conducted this study.


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