Long-Term Study of Liver Disease in People With Hepatitis B and/or Hepatitis C With or Without HIV Infection

Chronic viral hepatitis is a major health problem affecting millions globally. The immunosuppressed population, especially those with HIV infection, remains at particular risk and the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is increasing in the US and worldwide, with high rates in those who are cirrhotic, and is the 10th most common cause of death in the US. HIV-hepatitis coinfection is problematic in that HIV patients are currently living longer on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Those who are coinfected with HBV and/or HCV progress more rapidly to cirrhosis and hepatic failure. Further research on the epidemiology, optimal screening and new therapeutic approaches in persons with advanced liver disease, in the setting of effective treatment for viral hepatitis is needed. The primary objective of the proposed study is to characterize viral liver disease and factors affecting the natural history of viral liver disease in persons with and without HIV with an emphasis on those living in the Washington DC metropolitan area. The cohort will be designed to study research questions with respect to liver disease, disease pathogenesis using genomics, proteomics, and immunologic disease models. Secondary objectives include study of the immunopathogenesis of HBV and HCV disease progression in HIV infected subjects. In addition, this is an invaluable opportunity to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with the development of hepatocellular carcinoma, the longterm effects of HCV clearance with DAAs, along with biomarker profile(s) for diagnosis and outcome. Moreover, this will serve as a catchment protocol to select appropriate participants for novel HBV and HCV therapeutic trials.