Contents

Co-infections and co-morbidities with hepatitis C

Key points

  • Some people have hepatitis C infection in addition to other health conditions. Health conditions that are more commonly seen with hepatitis C include HIV, hepatitis B and chronic kidney disease.
  • For people with HIV and hepatitis C co-infection, HIV treatment is usually started first.
  • For people with hepatitis B and C co-infection, treatment for hepatitis B is often started first.
  • There are safe and effective hepatitis C treatments for people with chronic kidney disease.
  • People with HIV and hepatitis C co-infection, hepatitis B and C co-infection, or chronic kidney disease and hepatitis C have hepatitis C cure rates as high as people without any co-infections or co-morbidities.

People in Canada who have hepatitis C may also be living with other health conditions. Health conditions that are more commonly seen with hepatitis C include HIV, hepatitis B and chronic kidney disease. These three health conditions should be considered when discussing and starting hepatitis C treatment.

Hepatitis C treatments are highly effective and cure more than 95% of people who complete treatment. In the past, there were challenges treating and curing people who had hepatitis C along with some other health issues. However, now that highly effective direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment is available, people with hepatitis C and HIV, hepatitis B and/or chronic kidney disease have cure rates as high as people without any co-infections or co-morbidities.

Drug interactions

Sometimes when people take prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, herbs or supplements for more than one condition at the same time, these medications can affect each other. This reaction is called a drug–drug interaction or, more commonly, a drug interaction. Drug interactions can cause new side effects, they can increase the severity of existing side effects or they can change how effective a particular medication is.

A healthcare provider should know about all the medi­cations (prescribed or not prescribed), herbs and supplements a person is taking so they can choose a hepa­titis C treatment that does not have drug interactions or so they can develop a plan to manage drug interactions.

HIV and hepatitis C co-infection

An HIV and hepatitis C co-infection means that a person has both HIV and hepatitis C infections. HIV is a virus that weakens the immune system, which is the body’s built-in defence against diseases.

With HIV and hepatitis C co-infection, liver injury can happen more quickly. There is no cure for HIV, but treatment can keep the infection under control.

Everyone with hepatitis C should be tested for HIV before starting treatment. For people with HIV and hepatitis C co-infection, HIV treatment is usually started first. In some cases, there could be drug interactions between HIV and hepatitis C treatments, which would require a change in HIV treatment.

Hepatitis B and C co-infection

A hepatitis B and C co-infection means that a person has both hepatitis B and hepatitis C infections. Similar to hepatitis C, hepatitis B is a virus that infects the liver and causes injury.

People can have an acute hepatitis B infection that clears on its own without treatment, or they can develop chronic hepatitis B infection (hepatitis B infection that lasts for more than six months). There is no cure for chronic hepatitis B, but treatment can keep the infection under control.

Everyone with hepatitis C should be tested for hepatitis B before starting treatment. If a person has chronic hepatitis B, they will generally start hepatitis B treatment first. This is because with hepatitis C treatment, in rare cases there can be a flare-up of the hepatitis B virus, which can lead to serious liver injury and complications.

There is a vaccine for hepatitis B. People with hepatitis C who have never had hepatitis B or have never been vaccinated against hepatitis B should be offered a hepatitis B vaccination.

Chronic kidney disease and hepatitis C

A person with hepatitis C can also have chronic kidney disease. Chronic kidney disease occurs when there is lasting damage to the kidneys over a long period of time. In rare cases, hepatitis C can worsen kidney injury in people with chronic kidney disease.

The kidneys process some hepatitis C treatments. With chronic kidney disease, the kidneys slowly lose this ability, which can make some hepatitis C treatments less safe to take. However, there are hepatitis C treatments that are safe for people with chronic kidney disease. A healthcare provider will recommend a treatment that is approved for a person with advanced kidney disease.

Resources for service providers

Resources for clients

Revised 2020.