Home      Login

Abstract: 

The first half of this article appeared in the last issue of Correctional Health Care Report, Volume 2, No. 5 (July/ August 2001). It addressed the epidemiology of hepatitus, the spectrum of disease, and how to diagnosis of viral hepatitis. The topic of viral hepatitis in correctional institutions is paramount, as staggering numbers of inmates in the United States are infected with hepatitis C, and quite a number of inmates have chronic hepatitis B. Several recent studies have suggested that HIV disease modifies the natural history of chronic HCV infection, leading to an accelerated progression from chronic active hepatitis to cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and death (Eyster, 1993, Benhamou, 1999; Ragni, 2001). It appears that co-infection with HBV does not worsen HIV infection (Poles, 1997). There are conflicting opinions as to whether co-infection with HCV impacts the progression of HIV disease; some studies report no effect (Quan, 1993), while others suggest a more rapid progression to AIDS and death (Sabin, 1997).

Keywords: HAART, liver biopsy, interferon, renal failure, hemodialysis, organ transplantation, antiretrovirals, hepatotoxicity, Post-exposure prophylaxis

Affiliations:  1: Middlesex County Jail.